Stunning Glenn Phillips catch helps Gloucestershire defend 171 after Higgins cameo
ECB Reporters Network09-Jul-2021Benny Howell produced an outstanding spell to see Gloucestershire defend 171 to beat Middlesex by 10 runs in the Vitality Blast at Cheltenham College.Howell’s 3 for 23 from his four overs helped deliver a victory to revive Gloucestershire’s chances of qualifying from the South Group. Their sixth win of the group stage lifted them – perhaps only briefly – to second in the table.Having lost the toss, Gloucestershire were well held for most of their innings but a late burst from Ryan Higgins, who hit 43 from 25 balls on his return from paternity leave, helped add 52 from the final four overs as the home side posted 171 for 8.Related
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Middlesex were fairly well placed at 83 for 3 after 11 overs but fell away badly and Max Holden’s unbeaten 50 in 34 balls came too late.Mujeeb Ur Rahman had set the tone for a fine bowling performance from the away side as he bowled Miles Hammond with the fourth ball of the match and then had Howell taken at short third man in his second over. Mujeeb’s four overs conceded only 23 runs.Glenn Phillips cut Blake Cullen behind to leave Gloucestershire 26 for 3 after four overs, but James Bracey broke the shackles with a slog-sweep over deep midwicket as overs eight and nine collectively went for 33 but any momentum was ended as Bracey holed out to deep midwicket for 33 from 22 balls.The home side needed a spark and Higgins, returning after the birth of his son on Monday, played a most necessary late hand. He swung Cullen into the pavilion and pulled Finn over midwicket.
WHAT A WORLDIE
Glenn Phillips take a bow
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