Gloucestershire’s Ollie Price and Matt Taylor led their team to a thrilling 36-run victory over Yorkshire at York, successfully defending a target of 252.
Price anchored Gloucestershire’s innings with a watchful 98 off 118 balls, while Miles Hammond contributed 54. However, the visitors struggled in the final 15 overs, losing seven wickets for just 85 runs.
Yorkshire’s response on a challenging pitch was led by Shan Masood (76) and James Wharton (56), who put on a 113-run partnership for the third wicket. However, the Vikings collapsed from 137 for 2 to 215 all out within 48 overs.
Left-arm quick Matt Taylor was the star of the show for Gloucestershire, claiming 3 for 35 off 10 overs. Ben Coad (2 for 27) and Ajeet Singh Dale (2 for 36) also chipped in with crucial wickets.
Gloucestershire’s innings began cautiously, with Cameron Bancroft dismissed early. Price and Hammond then steadied the ship, rotating the strike and capitalizing on the extra bounce in the pitch. Price’s sweeping and reverse-sweeping against spin was particularly effective.
However, Gloucestershire’s momentum was halted by a flurry of wickets in the middle overs. Ben Cliff struck twice in the 36th over, while Coad and Moriarty also picked up wickets. Tom Smith’s 27 helped Gloucestershire reach a respectable total.
Yorkshire’s reply started poorly, with Fin Bean and Will Luxton dismissed cheaply. Masood and Wharton rebuilt the innings, but their partnership was broken by Matt Taylor. Harry Duke and Wharton fell in quick succession, leaving Yorkshire in trouble.
Dom Bess and Matthew Revis offered some resistance, but Gloucestershire’s bowlers maintained their discipline and eventually secured the victory.
