Porterfield inspires Gloucestershire
Ryan ten Doeschate continued his fine form for Essex, smashing 88 off 43 deliveries
Will Porterfield blasted 97 off just 53 balls, with 12 fours and three sixes, to lead Gloucestershire to a thrilling six-wicket NatWest Pro40 League victory over Essex in a rain-affected match at Cheltenham.
The visitors looked to be in a strong position when posting 191 for five off just 18 overs after losing the toss, Ryan ten Doeschate smashing 88 off 43 deliveries, with six sixes and five fours.
But the Gladiators reached their target with three balls to spare, thanks to Porterfield and James Franklin, who scored 60 off 30 balls in a match dominated by the batsmen.
The big hitting was amazing in gloomy conditions that looked likely to favour the bowlers.
The Eagles were 59 for two when ten Doeschate walked out to put Gloucestershire to the sword.
The Gladiators had chosen to open the bowling with off-spinner Richard Dawson, who dismissed the dangerous Hashim Amla after Mark Pettini had been undone by Steve Kirby’s off-cutter.
Graham Napier never found his range, holing out to David Brown at deep backward point off Chris Taylor, while David Brown quickly accounted for Matthew Walker lbw to make it 74 for four.
Then ten Doeschate began to cut loose, Brown in particular feeling the force in the 14th over as he shipped 24 runs.
Anthony Ireland was also on the receiving end and he must have been relieved when a downpour forced the umpires to lead the teams off at 5.35pm.
The break was short, and ten Doeschate proved his concentration had not been broken with two more boundaries off Franklin in the penultimate over of the abridged innings.
He fell to the last ball when he picked out Dawson in the deep off Kirby. Grant Flower was unbeaten on 34 off just 18 balls.
Gloucestershire’s chase looked impossive following the loss of two wickets in the fifth over, Kadeer Ali drove Chris Wright to Amla at mid-off and Alex Gidman edged to James Foster.
Franklin set about the rescue act with two sixes off Flower in the eighth, while Porterfield reached fifty off 31 balls.
Franklin’s exciting innings ended when he was run out by Walker, having scored at two per ball with the aid of three maximums, but the Gladiators had the momentum.
Hamish Marshall was stumped by Foster off ten Doeschate, leaving Taylor to grab the winning runs as Porterfield was stranded three short of a deserved ton.
