Bancroft Shines as Gloucestershire Edge Middlesex in T20 Thriller

Gloucestershire 179 for 8 (Bancroft 87) defeated Middlesex 169 for 7 (du Plooy 73, Andersson 49) by 10 runs

Cameron Bancroft delivered a standout performance in the Vitality Blast, scoring 87 from 54 balls, to guide Gloucestershire to a narrow 10-run victory over Middlesex, keeping their quarter-final hopes alive.

The Australian cricketer hit 10 fours and three sixes, sharing an opening partnership of 65 runs in 42 balls with Miles Hammond. This solid foundation helped Gloucestershire post a competitive total of 179 for eight at Chelmsford.

Despite a determined 73 not out from Middlesex captain Leus du Plooy, which included a record first-wicket stand of 102 with Martin Andersson against Gloucestershire, Middlesex collapsed, losing six wickets for 39 runs and finishing on 169 for seven.

Matt Taylor's impressive two for 17 contributed to Gloucestershire's victory, elevating them to joint fourth in the South Group table. However, their quarter-final spot depends on Essex not winning their final match against Hampshire on Friday.

Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Gloucestershire initially struggled, but Bancroft quickly found his rhythm, hitting Tom Helm for six and then smashing consecutive boundaries off Noah Cornwell. Hammond, who scored 30 from 21 balls, supported him well, and their partnership crossed 50 at the start of the sixth over before Hammond was dismissed by Luke Hollman.

Bancroft reached his fifty in style, hitting Hollman for consecutive sixes, but wickets fell regularly at the other end until Ben Charlesworth joined him at 105 for four. The duo added 46 from 29 balls before Charlesworth was caught at point by Blake Cullen, and Ryan Higgins struck twice in one over, dismissing Bancroft and running out Ollie Price with a deflection onto the stumps.

Despite a boundary from Josh Shaw in the final stages, Gloucestershire fell just short of the 180-mark they had aimed for.

In response, David Payne bowled two tight overs to start Middlesex's innings, but Andersson, who scored 49 from 39 balls, counterattacked Shaw, taking 14 runs from three balls and surviving a close call when the ball clipped his off-stump without dislodging the bails. 

Andersson's clean hitting brought two sixes off Beau Webster, while du Plooy accelerated after the power play, employing effective slog sweeps. Du Plooy reached his half-century from 32 balls with a straight six off Tom Smith, but Andersson fell just short, pulling Matt Taylor to deep midwicket, where Hammond took an outstanding one-handed catch.

This dismissal triggered a flurry of wickets, with Max Holden miscuing to backward point, Higgins bowled by a skidding delivery from Price, and Jack Davies and Joe Cracknell caught in the deep. Despite some late hits from Josh de Caires and Helm, Middlesex fell short as Payne closed out the match with figures of one for 26.