Gloucs bid for one-day return

C&G Trophy 4th round, Canterbury: Kent v Gloucestershire

Match scorecard

Gloucestershire kept their hopes of a return to the top in one-day cricket alive with a five-wicket victory at Canterbury in the C&G Trophy.

The visitors, who won back-to-back knockout cups in 1999 and 2000, reached their target of 195 with four overs to spare.

Quarter-final draw

In-form veteran Mike Smith again led the Gloucestershire bowlers, claiming figures of 4-35 as Kent were bowled out for 194.

And Kiwi Craig Spearman top-scored with 71 from 85 balls to set a high tempo that dimmed only slightly as Jonty Rhodes finished proceedings with an unbeaten 45.

Rhodes added 57 for the fifth wicket with Jack Russell, whose 30 from 27 balls was a result of quick singles and twos.

Russell eventually became Martin Saggers' third victim, caught at point by Matthew Walker.

Only Mark Ealham's nagging medium-pace could keep Gloucs under wraps, his eight overs yielding just 17 runs.

Gloucestershire's seamers were slightly less economical but more successful, Smith starring but James Averis weighing in with 3-39 and skipper Mark Alleyne taking the wickets of Rob Key and James Tredwell.

Kent skipper David Fulton, playing his first match of the season after suffering a serious eye injury, lasted just three balls before falling to Averis for a duck.

Greg Blewett top-scored for the hosts, who have won just one match so far this season, the Australian making 50 from 53 deliveries.

---

Kent: M A Ealham, R W T Key, E T Smith, G S Blewett, M J Walker, D P Fulton (Capt), G O Jones, J C Tredwell, J P Hewitt, M J Saggers, B J Trott.

Gloucestershire: C M Spearman, W P C Weston, T H C Hancock, J N Rhodes, M G N Windows, M W Alleyne (Capt), R C Russell, I G Butler, J M M Averis, M C J Ball, A M Smith.

Umpires: D J Constant and M J Kitchen.