Gloucestershire beat Warwickshire to achieve rare double

Gloucestershire, under the captaincy of Mark Alleyne, achieved a historic `double double' when they won the NatWest Trophy final against Warwickshire today. When they were 122 for 3 off 29.4 overs and well ahead of the required run rate, rain intervened. This forced the umpires to revise the target using the Duckworth Lewis method. The revised target saw Gloucestershire requiring 101 runs for victory from 29.4 overs. They thus emerged winners by 22 runs. Earlier, Warwickshire had scored 205 for seven off 50 overs.

The Duckworth Lewis system has never been applied in a Lord's encounter. But with the rain becoming heavy, the umpires were forced to do so. It was for the second successive year that Gloucestershire had won both the NatWest Trophy and the Benson & Hedges Cup.

For Kim Barnett, former Derbyshire captain, it was the sixth win out of the eight finals that he had played in. His 45 of 75 balls prevented the Warwickshire new ball bowlers from getting any advantage. But South African Allan Donald had the splendid figures of 6-2-7-2 in his last final in England to win the Man of the match award.

Gloucestershire won the toss and put Warwickshire into bat after the washout on Saturday. Mike Smith used the conditions well to take 3 for 18. Then recalled England player Ashley Giles rescued the side with a top score of 60. Giles partnered Dominic Ostler (19) to add 49 in 64 balls for the third wicket. Warwickshire's momentum were checked when Ostler got out to Averis. Alleyne was very expensive when he brought himself on. But Hancock with his occasional seamers removed Dougie Brown and Giles and ended with up with figures of 2 for 34 in his 10 overs.

Then skipper Neil Smith and Keith Piper scored 35 in 25 balls and took the score beyond 200.