Spearman scuppers Sabres

Craig Spearman played a match-winning knock of 140 not out © Getty Images

Craig Spearman’s superb century gave Gloucestershire Gladiators a four-wicket victory over Somerset Sabres and consolidated their position at the top of Friends Provident Trophy South/West Division.

Spearman was undefeated on 140 as the Gladiators reached a target of 291 to win with 10 balls to spare. Steve Adshead contributed 41 to an unbroken match-winning stand of 135.

Skipper Justin Langer had been the mainstay of Somerset’s 290 for six, scoring an unbeaten 112. Peter Trego’s 35-ball half-century ensured a challenging total in sweltering conditions.

Gloucestershire suffered a blow before the start when captain Jon Lewis strained his groin in the warm-up. Somerset later had an injury setback themselves when Marcus Trescothick damaged an Achilles tendon while fielding. Neither problem is thought to be serious.

In the event, Trescothick made only 14 before being caught behind off Steve Kirby. Craig Kieswetter (30) then helped Langer take the score to 89, but when he fell and James Hildreth and Ian Blackwell followed in quick succession Gloucestershire were on top.

Langer held things together, receiving good support from Zander de Bruyn (42) in a stand of 72. But it was 177 for six when Peter Trego marched out to apparently turn things the Sabres’ way.

He hit six fours and a six in a swashbuckling innings of 56 not out.

Somerset scored 78 runs from the last six overs as Anthony Ireland was ordered out of Gloucestershire’s attack for bowling a second no-ball full toss above waist-height and stand-in captain Alex Gidman went for 18 off an over.

Langer kept on accumulating, hitting 12 fours in his 118-ball innings. It was a true captain’s effort and Trego supplied the acceleration just when it was needed.

Gloucestershire lost Hamish Marshall in the first over of their reply, lbw to Alfonso Thomas, and Marcus North followed with the score on 58, caught at cover by James Hildreth for 14.

Gidman’s 37 gave his side hope until he fell at 75 for three. Chris Taylor and David Brown could play only cameo innings and when Mark Hardinges fell first ball to Steffan Jones, Gloucestershire looked out of it at 159 for six.

From then on it was all about Spearman, who looked a class act in moving to his century off 90 balls, with eight fours and two sixes, the second of which sailed over mid-wicket off de Bruyn to bring up his ton.

Adshead was the ideal foil, pushing singles and collecting the odd well-struck boundary in making his 41 at a run a ball. There were 63 needed off the last 10 overs and no Somerset bowler looked like breaking through.