County Championship Division Two: Gloucestershire beat Middlesex by nine wickets (From Gazette Series)

County Championship Division Two: Gloucestershire beat Middlesex by nine wickets

4:40pm Saturday 20th June 2009

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GLOUCESTERSHIRE wrapped up victory over Middlesex inside three days to continue their remarkable form in the County Championship.

Resuming on 129-5, Middlesex were bowled out 15 minutes before lunch for 233, setting Gloucestershire a target of 45 to win.

Will Porterfield was caught at slip by Andrew Strauss for four but Hamish Marshall guided them over the line with an unbeaten 28 with Kadeer Ali eight not out as the county recorded a nine-wicket win.

Steve Kirby was involved in the action early on, crucially removing the off-peg of Neil Dexter (43) in a fiery opening spell, and then making a great run out with a direct throw from long-off to dismiss David Nash for 38.

In between, Jon Lewis, who removed England captain Strauss for a three-ball duck on the previous day, had Gareth Berg caught behind by Steve Snell.

Such is the ruthlessness of Gloucestershire these days, not even a ninth wicket partnership of 52 between Shaun Udal and Chris Silverwood (26*) could distract them from the task in hand as Anthony Ireland had Udal (27) caught by Snell and Vikram Banerjee rounded things off by trapping David Burton lbw for 0.

England batsman Owais Shah top-scored for the visitors with the 57 he made on day two, while the wickets were shared around with three apiece for Kirby (3-30) and Lewis (3-54), two for Banerjee (2-66) and one for Ireland (1-28).

Indeed, one of the most impressive aspects in Gloucestershire’s early season form has been that contributions have been made throughout the team.

As Middlesex were bowled out for 153 in their first innings, Lewis took 3-34, Kirby 2-16, Ireland 2-42 and Banerjee 2-26. James Franklin (1-33) also took the crucial wicket of Strauss, who top scored with 32.

Then four players scored half centuries, with all of the top seven reaching at least double figures, as Gloucestershire soared past Middlesex’s total to reach 342.

Franklin showed his all-round value to the side with 67, stand-in captain Craig Spearman made 57, Will Porterfield hit 53 and Lewis chipped in with a valuable 54 down the order.

Gloucestershire are now a staggering 22 points clear of second-placed Surrey in Division Two after six games.

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