Alex Gidman's ton means Gloucestershire cruise

Gloucestershire 238 for 4 beat Unicorns 234 for 7 by six wickets
Scorecard

A century from captain Alex Gidman helped Gloucestershire to a comfortable six-wicket victory over the Unicorns in their Clydesdale Bank 40 match at Exmouth.

The Unicorns are yet to win in the competition this season although half-centuries from James Campbell and James Ord gave them a sound footing before Alex Gidman's innings wrapped up the win for the Gladiators.

It was his brother, Will Gidman, who took the early wicket of Michael Thornely but Campbell (58) and Ord (55) then put on 96 runs for the second wicket before the former was caught off the bowling of Kevin O'Brien.

Ord was the next wicket to fall to Jack Taylor and when Jayden Levitt became Taylor's second victim, with Keith Parsons and Josh Knappett falling cheaply either side, the Unicorns were in trouble. Luis Reece and Amar Rashid managed to guide the hosts on to 234 for seven at the end of their 40 overs.

Gloucestershire were quick out of the blocks at the start of their reply and when O'Brien (46) was out off the bowling of Reece in the ninth over the visitors had already accrued 89 runs. James Fuller was then bowled by Reece before Alex Gidman (106no) and Hamish Marshall (60) piled on the runs until Reece struck again to dismiss the latter.

Kane Williamson became Reece's fourth victim soon after but Gidman stayed firm and saw his team home as Gloucestershire won their fourth group match of the season.