Ed Barnard's exceptional performance with both bat and ball propelled Warwickshire to a six-wicket triumph over Gloucestershire at Bristol's Seat Unique Stadium, extending their unbeaten run in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup to five matches.
Barnard's bowling figures of 3 for 16 played a crucial role in dismissing Gloucestershire for 267 in 49.4 overs. He then delivered a masterful unbeaten 152 off 134 balls, steering the Bears to their target with 2.1 overs remaining. His innings included two sixes and 14 fours, and he formed significant partnerships of 79 with Hamza Shaikh and 135 with Chris Benjamin for the third and fifth wickets, respectively. This victory kept Warwickshire neck-and-neck with Glamorgan at the top of Group B.
Gloucestershire's Jack Taylor put up a valiant effort, scoring an unbeaten 139 off 115 balls, including eight sixes and 10 fours. He shared partnerships of 101 with Ben Charlesworth and 54 with Graeme van Buuren, recovering from a precarious 43 for 4.
Despite Taylor's heroics, Gloucestershire struggled against Barnard and Warwickshire's young leg-spinner Tazeem Ali, who recorded career-best figures of 3 for 55. Ali dismissed van Buuren and Tom Smith, while Michael Booth contributed 3 for 55, removing Miles Hammond and stalling Gloucestershire's progress.
Winning the toss, Gloucestershire opted to bat, but quickly regretted the decision. Barnard struck early, removing Cameron Bancroft for a duck and sending back Ollie Price and James Bracey cheaply. Booth added to the damage by dismissing Hammond for 15, leaving Gloucestershire at 43 for 4.
Charlesworth and Taylor then steadied the innings with a 50-run stand, with Charlesworth reaching his half-century off 68 balls. However, his innings ended at 144 for 5 when he holed out to midwicket. Taylor continued to fight, reaching his first century of the season and leading a late surge that added 52 runs in the last 3.4 overs.
Chasing 271, Warwickshire faced early setbacks as Matt Taylor and Josh Shaw dismissed Rob Yates and Will Rhodes, leaving them at 46 for 2. However, Barnard and Shaikh restored stability, with Barnard reaching his half-century off 52 balls. Shaikh, enjoying a breakthrough season, contributed a valuable 37 before departing in the 25th over.
Gloucestershire managed to dismiss Michael Burgess, who was reverse-sweeping, but Barnard's composed batting kept Warwickshire on track. He found strong support in Chris Benjamin, who made an unbeaten 45 off 59 balls. Together, they ensured Warwickshire reached their target, with Barnard carrying his bat for the second time in five innings, securing a well-deserved victory.
This win positions Warwickshire favourably for a quarter-final spot, while Gloucestershire, with three losses in five matches, must defeat Sussex in their next game to keep their knockout hopes alive.