7:24pm Sunday 5th July 2009
A CENTURY from captain Alex Gidman was not enough to lead Gloucestershire into a first Lord’s final for five years as they were beaten by Sussex today.
Gidman struck an impressive 116 off 117 balls but he may look back to his earlier decision to bowl first on a good batting pitch at Hove, as the Sharks made 326-7 which proved to be 34 runs too many for Gloucestershire.
Ex-England one-day international Ed Joyce did the damage, hitting 146 off 139 balls. He shared an opening partnership of 62 with Chris Nash (32), another 56 with Luke Wright (36), before the third wicket stand of 144 with Murray Goodwin, who made a run-a-ball 60.
Jon Lewis (2-58) and Richard Dawson (2-50) took two wickets apiece for Gloucestershire but most bowlers were expensive, particularly James Franklin who went for 53 off six wicket-less overs.
Kadeer Ali fell early on for five, leaving Gloucestershire 8-1 but Hamish Marshall struck 57 in a partnership of 155 with Gidman before he was crucially run out.
When Gidman was caught by Andrew Hodd off Sussex skipper Michael Yardy (4-54) the Gladiators were 252-5 and despite a valiant 34 from Franklin, their challenge faded and they were bowled out for 292 off 47.4 overs.
Sussex now meet Hampshire in the final.
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