Gloucestershire beat Sussex by 10 runs at Bristol

An amazing fight-back from Gloucestershire gave them a miraculous ten run victory over the Sussex Sharks on Sunday. Cruising at 125-4, needing 20 runs to win, with all the time in the world, Sussex looked virtually impregnable. Four wickets from Averis ripped away the Sharks' backbone, as one of the unlikeliest victories in years came into fruition.

Sussex, playing in their first season in Division 1, won the toss and sent the Gladiators in. The home side were soon in trouble, losing pinch-hitter Jeremy Snape and opener Tim Hancock caught in the slips, and Matt Windows, unlucky to be given lbw, as the score crept to 16. Kim Barnett and Mark Alleyne set about the recovery mission, Alleyne cutting and driving with power. The innings never gained impetus, flickering to life only with Jack Russell's breezy knock of 23. Rob Kirtley was the pick of the bowlers, with 3-18 from his allocation. In spite of Barnett's patient 55, 145 never looked enough.

The pitch kept low, offering some help to the seamers. After two early losses, Chris Adams and Michael Bevan eased out a 48 partnership before the former was run out for 12. At 83-3, the hard work appeared to have been done. Jeremy Snape struck with his first ball, but Jamie Carpenter and the invisible Bevan steadied the ship.

A Harvey yorker was too good for Carpenter, and with a lengthy Sussex tail, perhaps the Gladiators had a chance. James Averis got rid of Robin Martin-Jenkins for a duck, and a direct-hit from Hancock saw the end of Rashid, also for one. Wilton popped an Averis slower ball to mid-wicket, out for one. From holding an iron grip, the Sharks were suddenly 133-8. If there is to be any criticism of Bevan it is that he did not look for the boundaries - appearing content to leave the strike with the tail enders. With two overs left, and Harvey finished with 2-5, (9 overs) Sussex needed a run a ball. Rob Kirtley couldn't get the ball of the square, so resorted to try and loft Averis. The ball skied to mid off, swerving in the wind. It appeared that Harvey had misjudged the take, but he somehow managed a grab, diving backwards, the ball over his head. It was an amazing catch - and is clear why his nickname is the `freak.'

Ironically, the best one-day batsman in the world was at the crease with the worse. Mark Robinson has made it to the Guinness Book of Records for his incompetence with the willow. Thanks to some poor running from Bevan, it was Robinson to take strike. Averis needed only one ball, Robinson trapped leg before, and the county ground erupted. The Gloucester players, led by Averis (4-21 from 8.4) led the players in. It was a stunning, stunning performance.