Win proves success not a fluke - Alleyne

The spoils of victory: Gloucestershire celebrate

Gloucestershire's victorious captain Mark Alleyne said his side's seven wicket win over Glamorgan in the Benson and Hedges Cup proved that their success last year was not a fluke.

Alleyne's men became the first county to win three successive finals despite a century from rival skipper Matthew Maynard.

In 1999, the west countrymen landed the Super Cup and NatWest Trophy - after not progressing to a Lord's showpiece for 22 years.

And Alleyne said: "We've played some very good cricket in the three competitions. We've worked hard for it, and we've got a long way to go. We are looking forward to the next five years.

Maynard: I thought 225 was defendable

"Some people thought 1999 was a bit of a freak year, but we've bounced back into this season and won the first trophy, so it's really sweet.

No fluke

"We've made sure it's not a fluke, we made a lot of strides last year. I think we are a better team now, a bit more of an all-round side.

"I hope it's the start of real good things to come. If we can keep these strides going we can come out a really formidable side; we are very difficult to beat now as it is.

"They had a good partnership (Maynard-Mike Powell 137), but the rate was always in control, with Ian Harvey combining with James Averis to do a great job at the end.

Alleyne: We've made sure last year was not a fluke

"Ian is a fantastic cricketer, got all the skills to bowl at the end, fantastic yorker, slower ball and variation. He's got no fear, he does think he's the best at the end.

"It's crucial that a batsman doesn't line you up. He's so confident in what he does, and he's got a right to be.

Crucial

"Our opening partnership was crucial. We know it is not easy bowling in a final for the first time, and we went out to capitalise on a tentative start. When they settled down we already had the momentum going."

We've played some very good cricket in the three competitions. We've worked hard for it, and we've got a long way to go. We are looking forward to the next five years.

Mark Alleyne

Harvey's crucial five for 34 did not win him the Gold Award. That went to Maynard, who could hardly bring himself to break into a smile when receiving it.

"I'll probably look back in a few years when my career is over and say it was a great thing," said Maynard, who led Glamorgan in their first final for 23 years.

"At the time I'd much preferred to have got nought and the team win through.

Defendable

"I thought 225 was defendable, but Gloucester had a 20 over spell in the game which was all theirs, and you can't afford that in one-day cricket. That was the last 10 overs of our innings and the first 10 of theirs.

"Our opening bowlers have bowled fantastically for us this year, but it wasn't their day. Any loose ball was punished for four, we didn't bowl as well as a unit as we had done.

"Gloucester have got one of the better one-day bowlers around in Ian Harvey. He put the crushers on us at the death."