Holders Gloucs seen off by Surrey

C&G Trophy, second round, Bristol
Gloucestershire 230-8 lost Surrey 232-7 by three wickets

Match scorecard

Clarke is suitably jubilant after Surrey's much-needed victory

Rikki Clarke impressed with bat and ball as Surrey bundled defending champions Gloucestershire out of the C&G Trophy with a three-wicket victory.

It was a thrilling encounter in Bristol, with Surrey chasing 231 to win with three balls remaining.

Skipper Mark Ramprakash made 84 and Clarke an unbeaten 62 off 68 balls.

Clarke earlier returned 2-41 as Gloucs, who have won the Trophy in four of the previous six years, made 230-8 after losing the toss.

Skipper Chris Taylor struck 74 off 87 balls and Alex Gidman 58 not out, but the wheels fell off towards the end with three middle-order wickets falling for 14 runs.

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Surrey's chase was a topsy-turvy affair, and Gloucestershire always looked to be in with a shout even with Clarke marshalling the innings.

The visitors still needed 17 off the last two overs to win, but the task was made easier after Martin Bicknell smacked Jon Lewis for six on the first ball of the 49th over.

Lewis (3-47) removed the tailender with the last ball of his over, but Surrey kept their cool to record a first one-day win of the season against county opposition.

Man-of-the-Match Clarke said: "We haven't done ourselves justice in one-day cricket this year and we just looked to keep wickets in hand towards the end.

"We just tried to keep the score ticking, take the game down to the wire and see what happens."

Clarke revealed he was not concerned when Ramprakash and big-hitting Ali Brown [one] fell with him at the crease.

"James Benning can hit a ball and Bicknell is pretty useful with the bat, so we were always confident.

"They are a great outfit, and we kept our heads."

It was Gloucestershire's first 50-over defeat at home since 2002.