NatWest T20 Blast
Kent 130
Gloucestershire 138-9

GLOUCESTERSHIRE produced a brilliant display in the field as they defended 138-9 to beat Kent by eight runs in front of the Sky Sports cameras in Canterbury.

The hosts looked to be favourites at the halfway stage of this NatWest T20 Blast contest after Gloucestershire struggled for momentum after being put in, despite 40 from Ian Cockbain.

Daniel Bell-Drummond’s rapid 25 got Kent’s reply off to a flying start.

But Tom Smith (3-28) ripped out the middle order to leave Kent 71-5 and they fell short after never recovering.

With an impossible 10 needed off the final ball, Imran Qayyum, who had earlier taken 2-19 with his left-arm spin, was run out as Kent were dismissed for 130.

Sri Lanka all-rounder Thisara Perera finished with 3-31 – including the key wicket of Bell-Drummond – and Benny Howell 2-12 from his four overs, to add to his 26 with the bat, as the Gloucestershire bowlers increased the pressure to leave Kent behind the run-rate.

Michael Klinger’s unbeaten side fielded tigerishly and caught superbly to defend their modest total.

Gloucestershire’s victory, which takes them second in the South Group – level on points with leaders Hampshire – meant they completed the double this season over Kent, who had successfully chased down Surrey’s 205-5 to win at The Oval in their previous game.

Victorious captain Klinger said: “It’s slightly easier to be captain when your bowlers perform so well and we fielded like we did. I felt that overall we probably gave a wicket or two too many away in our powerplay, but our spinners and change-of-pace bowlers came back really well on a wicket that was quite tough to bat on.

“We talked about 145 to 150 being a par score on that wicket because it was holding and turning, but we’ve made a name for ourselves over the past few years for being able to strangle batting sides in those positions and luckily enough that’s how it worked out for us today.

"It’s always nice to win some tight ones. Especially early in the tournament.”