Spearman steals the show

Craig Spearman hit route 66 to lead Gloucestershire home © Getty Images

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Craig Spearman helped Gloucestershire to a six-wicket victory over Glamorgan to take his county towards the top of the Friends Provident Trophy South/West Group table.

Glamorgan had hoped to make a winning start at their redeveloped SWALEC Stadium in Cardiff but could only make 202 for eight in their 50 overs with Ben Wright top-scoring with 60.

Although the Gladiators, who won the toss, were reduced to 16 for three in reply within six overs, Spearman and Chris Taylor, who took three catches in the Glamorgan innings, rescued their side.

Jason Gillespie struck with the fourth ball of the innings to dismiss Alex Gidman who was bowled via an inside edge. And four overs later Glamorgan's overseas bowler broke through again to have Marcus North caught behind.

An encouraging start for Glamorgan was complete with the wicket of Hamish Marshall, who edged to first slip.

But after that Spearman dominated a fourth-wicket partnership of 106 in 25 overs before he was trapped leg before by Dean Cosker attempting a reverse sweep. Spearman went for 66 from 81 balls.

After Spearman's demise Taylor, who finished with 66 from 101 balls, and David Brown took their side past the winning line with 5.4 overs remaining.

Glamorgan had been indebted to Wright's 60 from 85 balls with four fours to take his side from a precarious position of 70 for four.

The Gladiators' seam attack dominated on a two-paced pitch taking wickets at regular intervals.

Taylor set the tone for the visitors by taking a brilliant one-handed catch to remove Matthew Wood in the sixth over.

Glamorgan went from 10 for one to 25 for two three overs later as their skipper David Hemp edged Steve Kirby's first ball of the match to North at second slip.

Michael Powell and Tom Maynard recovered Glamorgan's precarious position briefly before both were out in consecutive overs. Powell chopped a Mark Hardinges long hop onto his stumps and Maynard was leg before shuffling across his stumps.

Hardinges, who finished with figures of 2-30 off 10 overs, also saw Jamie Dalrymple edge onto his stumps as Glamorgan began to find scoring painfully difficult.

Some testing seam bowling was backed up by good fielding as Taylor took another good catch at backward point, this time low down to remove Glamorgan wicketkeeper Mark Wallace.

Wright and Wharf shared in a 55-run partnership in nine overs at the end of the innings, but ultimately it was not enough.