RICHARD Dawson is desperate to reward Gloucestershire supporters with a home quarter-final in the NatWest T20 Blast.

And the head coach will probably see his wish come true if his team can beat Essex in their next South Group match at the Cheltenham Festival on Sunday.

Gloucestershire go into the game on 17 points from 12 games and with a place in the last eight virtually assured.

But, while third-placed Essex have only ten points, they have three games in hand and could still overtake Gloucestershire in the race for the top two finish, which offers home advantage in the quarter-finals.

Dawson said: “We had a great atmosphere for a home quarter-final in the Royal London Cup against Hampshire last season and massively want a repeat of what our supporters created that day.

“I would love to give them another big cup occasion at Bristol, but if it doesn't happen we can take comfort from the fact that we have adapted our T20 game really well on opposition grounds this season.

“We have played the pitch conditions well wherever games have taken place and done well at places like Chelmsford, Beckenham, Arundel and Cardiff.

“I am not thinking too much about the quarter-finals yet. We still have to qualify mathematically and I just want us to keep playing the brand of cricket that has taken us to the top of the group.

“Whereas at Bristol the short boundaries are straight, at Cheltenham they are both sides of the pitch. From a bowling point of view that means a slight change in tactics.

“We love playing at the Festival and if the sun is out on Sunday, with a sell-out crowd, it is going to be a great setting.”

Gloucestershire bounced back from a rare setback in T20 cricket this season to hammer nearest rivals Glamorgan at Cardiff last Sunday, a victory which gave Dawson particular pleasure.

“We felt we should have beaten Kent in the previous game, but lost through some poor thinking, which was frustrating,” he said.

“To go from there to such a convincing performance against Glamorgan was very encouraging. We bowled really well.

“It was one thing to encounter a turning wicket and another to exploit it as we did.

“We have a fit squad at the moment, which gives us options for the Essex game. With two group games left, it is important we build momentum again, so we can go into the knock-out stage in good form.”