Spearman back in business

Craig Spearman hit an unbeaten 69, his first half-century in 10 months, in Gloucestershire's successful pursuit of 228 to win

Unbeaten half-centuries from Craig Spearman and Chris Taylor guided Gloucestershire to a seven-wicket victory over Sussex in their Friends Provident Trophy Group C clash at Bristol.

Gloucestershire captain Alex Gidman (43) also made a sizeable contribution as Gloucestershire overcame Sussex's 227 with 22 balls to spare.

Spearman struck six fours in posting an unbeaten 69, his first half-century since he suffered a depressed fracture of the cheekbone and damaged eye socket in a Twenty20 Cup game against Northamptonshire at Milton Keynes last June.

Taylor hit eight fours and a six in his 68 not out as he and Spearman shared an unbroken match-winning stand of 122.

Earlier, Michael Yardy had top-scored for Sussex with 58 while Matt Prior made 50 and Luke Wright 40.

But Sussex were restricted to a modest total by some fine bowling, notably from left-arm spinner Vikram Banerjee and Jon Lewis, who took 3-47 and 2-34 respectively.

After being put in by Gidman, Sussex struggled to score quickly against impressive early bowling from Lewis, James Franklin and Steve Kirby, while their problems were compounded by a slow outfield that had been relaid during the winter.

Joe Gatting and Ed Joyce fell to catches at the wicket, off Lewis and Kirby respectively, and it was 63 for three in the 21st over when Murray Goodwin mistimed a pull off Franklin and gave Banerjee a simple catch at mid-on.

Skipper Michael Yardy's stout 58 proved in vain as Sussex saw their total overhauled with ease at Bristol

Prior was just starting to up the tempo when he came down the pitch to Banerjee and miscued a drive to Taylor at extra cover, having reached a 63-ball half-century off the previous delivery.

Likewise, Luke Wright was threatening to break loose when he skied a slower ball from Gidman to David Brown at long-off. His 40 came from 41 deliveries and included the only six of the innings, a straight-driven effort off Brown.

Sussex looked as though they might fall short of 200 after Banerjee bowled Rory Hamilton-Brown and Robin Martin-Jenkins with the last two balls of his spell and Damien Wright was taken in the deep by Banerjee off Franklin.

But Yardy boosted the total with some lusty blows and his ninth-wicket partnership with Will Beer had realised 35 runs when he drove Franklin to Lewis at mid-on.

In reply Kadeer Ali departed in the third over of Gloucestershire's response when he was lbw played across the line to James Kirtley.

But Gloucestershire always looked in control of their run-chase thereafter, despite some good leg-spin bowling from 20-year-old Beer.

Hamish Marshall made 27 before being caught behind off Martin-Jenkins and Gidman's fluent innings of 43 ended when he was sent back by Spearman and run out by Yardy's throw from backward point.

Spearman and Taylor played watchfully before cutting loose. Spearman reached his 71-ball half-century with a boundary to fine leg off Luke Wright and, shortly after, Taylor hoisted a delivery from Martin-Jenkins over long-on, the only six of the innings.

Taylor reached his fifty with a cover-driven boundary off Hamilton-Brown as Gloucestershire wrapped up a comfortable win.