Michael Klinger will challenge Gloucestershire’s players to take winning momentum into the NatWest T20 Blast quarter-finals by beating Middlesex in their final South Group match at Bristol tonight.

The skipper has been delighted with his team’s form in winning nine of their 13 games in the competition so far, but does not underestimate the importance of striking another blow against a county already sure to join them in the last eight.

Middlesex themselves have enjoyed a successful campaign so it promises to be a battle royal under the Brightside Ground floodlights.

Klinger said: “I couldn’t be happier with the way the guys have played in T20 this season. The key has been the number of times six or seven players have all made important contributions to our wins.

“We have shown we can be effective batting first or second and that we can adapt to conditions on away grounds.

“But we all know how vital momentum is in T20. It is the sort of game where you can put together winning runs when all is going well and equally lose a few in succession if you let standards slip.

“We want to go into the quarter-finals with confidence high and a good performance against Middlesex will ensure that is the case.”

Klinger has praised the contribution of left-arm seamer Matt Taylor to Gloucestershire’s success in the South Group.

The 22-year-old has recovered from a serious back injury last season to establish himself as one of the best and most economical opening bowlers in the competition.

Taylor had the distinction of bowling a maiden to Chris Gayle in the match against Somerset at Bristol and has taken 13 wickets in the group games at an average of 19.76.

Klinger said: “Matt is fitter and stronger this season and because of that he is bowling heavier balls.

“I am not here during the winter, but I have noticed and heard from his coaches that he has worked very hard to his variations and he is not afraid to try them in games.

“If he does that and gets hit I don’t mind because I know he is backing himself, which is very important for a young bowler in T20 cricket.”

Experienced wicketkeeper Phil Mustard is expected to make his T20 debut for Gloucestershire against Middlesex, having signed on loan from Durham until the end of the season.

Mustard will be looking to make an impression with the bat, as well as the gloves, having been dismissed for a second ball duck as Gloucestershire took a rare one-day hammering at the hands of Surrey in the Royal London One-Day Cup on Wednesday.