Zak Crawley's knock in vain as Kent fall to Gloucestershire

Zak Crawley is registering 175/107. If that is his blood pressure it is Stage 2 Hypertension and probably summed up his stage of health during recent Test series. Fortunately, it is not a matter of Systolic and Diastolic readings, but runs scored divided by balls faced in the Vitality Blast. It suggests that he is slowly returning to health again.

Not that his 43 from 29 balls, as welcome as it was to him and England, made much difference to the greater scheme of things. Kent's second defeat of the season could hardly have been more emphatic as Gloucestershire trounced them by eight wickets with 38 balls to spare at Bristol. By dint of that, Gloucestershire move into the South Group's top four at roughly the mid-point of the group stages.

Since Crawley made 267 against Pakistan at the Ageas Bowl in August last year, and heard many good judges, that great stylist Ted Dexter among them, purring in approval, he has followed up with five single-figure scores in six. He failed against India and New Zealand in common with many, but he could be forgiven slight confusion when a small trigger movement - nothing much more than a twitch - was attracting more attention than the horrors going on elsewhere.

Endless T20 is not the sort of preparation for resuming a Test career against India at Trent Bridge in early August, but he must gain sustenance where he can. He has been part of a strong Kent top order that has taken them to the top of the South Group - despite this defeat - and his strike rate of 163 per hundred balls has been highly respectable.

Against Gloucestershire, he stood stock still, braced to attack. Dan Worrall, Gloucestershire's Australian overseas pace bowler, felt the force of that as the third and fourth balls in the first over were deposited over midwicket. The first was straight and planted for four with care; the second, a little wider, invited conviction and flew over the ropes.

He was fortunate not be caught on the offside off David Payne on 35, the ball falling safe between two fielders, but, on 43, a slog-sweep against the slow left-armer Tom Smith fell to Worrall at deep square.

Without their captain, Sam Billings, now back on England duty, Kent were not at their most zestful. Joe Denly and Jack Leaning fell at short extra - at least Denly hit his crisply - and Alex Blake, aiming legside, drew a good running catch over his shoulder by Jack Taylor. Darren Stevens should have been caught at deep cover by Chris Dent, who perhaps had the sun in his eyes, only for Dent to take a much harder chance, stretching to his right, off Worrall, 11 balls from the end.

Only some late defiance from Jordan Cox provided the illusion of a vaguely competitive total.

Gloucestershire's satisfaction was tempered by an ankle injury to Ian Cockbain, who retired hurt on 30, but such a comfortable victory has done wonders for their run rate.

Miles Hammond began their chase in ideal fashion, striking the first two balls over cover for four and then the first two of the fourth, from Grant Stewart, for six over square leg. With 55 banked from 4.4, he attempted a charging pull against Matt Milnes and skied a comfortable chance: his 33 was his best return in the tournament.

Chris Dent's 21 off the final over of the powerplay left Stewart contemplating two overs for 38. At 75 for 1, and the required rate only five an over, Kent's challenge subsided. Glenn Phillips (41 not out from 25 balls) rounded things off with a switch-hit six against Denly.