Klinger century continues masterful season

Gloucestershire 289 for 7 (Klinger 135*, Borthwick 3-26) beat Durham 214 (Hastings 46, Payne 5-40) by 71 runs (D/L method)
Scorecard

Michael Klinger's prolific season with Gloucestershire continued with a seventh century in all competitions to set up a 71-run Royal London Cup win over Durham under Duckworth-Lewis rain recalculations at Bristol.

The 35-year-old Australian followed up his hundred in the previous game against Somerset by blasting 135 not out off 114 balls, with 12 fours and 5 sixes, as the hosts posted 289 for 7 either side of three rain breaks, which reduced the match to 41 overs per side.

Geraint Jones contributed 54 and Benny Howell a rapid 45 off just 24 balls after Klinger had won the toss. Scott Borthwick returned the best figures for a below par Durham attack, claiming 3 for 26 from five overs.

In reply, the visitors faced a revised target of 286 and fell well short as they were bowled out for 211 in the final over, John Hastings top-scoring with 46 and Gordon Muchall making 35. David Payne returned 5 for 40 from eight overs.

The result made Gloucestershire strong favourites to reach the quarter-final, having taken nine points from five group matches, while Durham face a battle to qualify on five with just two games left.

Klinger's score, just five short of his career-best in List A cricket, was achieved, despite a tight hamstring, which forced him to make his last 41 runs, batting with Chris Dent as a runner.

After opening the innings, he shared stands of 132 with Jones and 68 in 6.3 overs with Howell, who smashed 4 fours and 3 sixes.

Rain intervened at 15 for 1, 30 for 1 and 137 for 2. But Klinger maintained concentration throughout, hitting most of his sixes straight, into the flats over long on and long-off at the Ashley Down Road End.

Off-spinner Ryan Pringle went for 61 off six overs as Jones and Howell made profitable use of the reverse sweep against him.

Mark Stoneman launched the Durham reply with a six over square leg in James Fuller's opening over, but fell for 19 to a catch at mid-off which gave Payne the first of his wickets.

It was 68 for 2 when Phil Mustard middled a drive off Benny Howell straight to Chris Dent, who took a sharp catch at midwicket, and when the same bowler struck again to have Borthwick caught at deep square by Payne the home side took a grip.

Durham never seriously threatened the target as the required run rate rose into double figures on an increasingly slow pitch which offered some turn for left-arm spinner Tom Smith.

Left-arm seamer Payne cleaned up the lower order with the game already lost and led a disciplined Gloucestershire bowling and fielding performance.