Klinger and Liddle inspire Gloucestershire win
Michael Klinger hit a century and Chris Liddle claimed a five-wicket haul as Gloucestershire claimed a Royal London One-Day Cup win over Kent Spitfires by 12 runs in glorious Bristol sunshine.
Michael Klinger’s 134 looked to have paved the way for a challenging total after they have been asked to bat first. But a flurry of late wickets saw Matt Coles finish with four for 57 and restrict the hosts to 275 for eight.
It didn’t look like proving enough as Daniel Bell-Drummond followed up centuries against Somerset and Sussex with 90, off 108 balls, including 8 fours.
Sean Dickson (50) and Sam Northeast (44) provided good support but Liddle had other ideas with a telling spell from the Ashley Down Road End as the visitors could only muster 264 for nine.
The win was Gloucestershire’s second in the competition and kept alive their slim hopes of a top three finish in the South Group.
Klinger could hardly have done more, reaching his 16th List A hundred off 123 balls, with 8 fours and 3 sixes, to help take the home side’s score to 260 for three before he was out.
The 36-year-old Australian hit three of his sixes into the flats at the Ashley Down Road End of the Brightside Ground, his favourite one-day shot at the venue, and progressed with increasing assurance on an excellent batting pitch.
Chris Dent (43) and Ian Cockbain (35) shared useful partnerships, but when Klinger was caught at deep mid-wicket off Joe Denly it signalled a rapid transformation in fortunes.
Far from building on their captain’s efforts with some big hitting at the end, Gloucestershire lost five wickets in less than two overs as Coles and James Harris (two for 28) put themselves on hat-tricks.
With the sun still shining in a cloudless sky, a target of 276 did not appear looked likely to test Kent’s strong batting line-up..
Joe Denly holed out off Liddle with the total on 64, before Bell-Drummond, who survived a couple of early scares, and Dickson then put together a stand of 89 in 17.3 overs.
Dickson perished the ball after reaching a 62-ball half-century, with 3 fours and a six, picking out George Haskins at deep mid-wicket to give left-arm spinner Tom Smith a wicket.
By the time Bell-Drummond was brilliantly caught low down by Klinger at extra-cover off Liddle, Kent had posted 200 and needed a further 76 from 11.4 overs.
Northeast was established and playing well. His fourth six, over long-on off Jack Taylor was one of the biggest of the match.
Darren Stevens was angry with himself when caught behind off Liddle trying to run the ball down to third-man and at 217 for four, Kent were far from comfortable.
Soon it was Northeast trudging back to the pavilion having smashed Liddle straight to long-on where Jack Taylor took the catch. From looking in total command, the visitors were suddenly under pressure at 220 for five.
More poor shots accounted for Matt Coles and Alex Blake and Gloucestershire sensed their chance. The Kent tailenders flailed wildly without success and the game had been turned on it head.
Scorecard
The next home match is a day-night Battle of the Bridge showdown against Essex Eagles at The Spitfire Ground on Wednesday 17 May (1.30pm).