Durham defy bloodied Gladiators

Alex Gidman (left) bravely returned after retiring hurt from this wound to try and sneak Gloucestershire to an unlikely win

Ian Blackwell claimed 4-36 as Durham triumphed in a nailbiting one-run NatWest Pro40 victory over Gloucestershire at Cheltenham.

A 36-ball half-century from Jon Lewis (54) helped the Gladiators somehow recover from 104 for seven to need just two off the last over as they chased 207 to win at Cheltenham College.

But last man Steve Kirby edged Liam Plunkett’s first delivery back to wicketkeeper Phil Mustard and the Gladiators were bowled out for 205, Will Porterfield top-scoring with 62.

Kyle Coetzer’s 63 was the mainstay of the Dynamos’ innings of 206 all out, in which Ben Harmison scored 47 and Kirby returned 4-32.

It was a low key game for the 3,500 crowd until Lewis and Richard Dawson (31) added 81 in rapid time for Gloucestershire’s eighth wicket.

When Lewis was out 23 were still needed and Gladiators skipper Alex Gidman returned with a runner, having retired hurt after being hit and bloodied in the face by a short ball from Mitchell Claydon.

Dawson fell with only 12 required and Gidman and Kirby inched towards the target to gasps and cheers from home supporters, who had seen their team collapse from 80 for two, losing five wickets for 24, before Lewis and Dawson’s revival.

Kirby stood transfixed after losing his wicket while the Durham team celebrated and looked forward with more relish to their long journey home.

Earlier, the Dynamos’ batting had lacked inspiration after the early fall of openers Phil Mustard and Blackwell with only 31 on the board.

Blackwell hit two sixes in his 23, but then lost concentration and was dropped by Lewis at mid-off before top edging Kirby’s next ball to James Franklin at short fine-leg.

Kyle Coetzer's 63 ensured Durham passed 200 after regular breakthroughs by Gloucestershire's attack at Cheltenham

Harmison, who had begun positively, was forced to drop anchor when Will Smith fell to Lewis with the total on 56 and Dale Benkenstein nicked a catch behind off Kirby three runs later.

Coetzer built gradually and survived a leg side stumping chance to Steve Adshead on 20 as he and Harmison added 66 for the fifth wicket.

Then Harmison top-edged a sweep off Chris Taylor to Porterfield at mid-wicket, having hit only three fours in his 63-ball stay.

Gareth Breese carelessly drove Dawson straight to David Brown at long-on with the score on 146 and Coetzer was content to push singles as Durham progressed sedately.

It was 184 for seven when Coetzer’s 82-ball knock ended, bowled by Dawson, and there was nothing the Dynamos tail could do to lift the tempo as they were dismissed off the fourth ball of the final over.