Gloucestershire pushed ahead in the race for last-eight qualification last night by completing a double over Kent inside a week, backing up the six-wicket win at Cheltenham last Thursday by defending a seemingly under-par 138 for nine with great tenacity. Unbeaten in four games, including a no result and a tie, they moved up to second in the south group table behind Hampshire.
After a spectacular 200-plus chase against Surrey in their previous match, Kent were again happy to be set a target. Gloucestershire, despite some powerplay fireworks from Michael Klinger, and useful knocks from Ian Cockbain and Benny Howell, could not shake off a disciplined attack in which Imran Qayyum, a 24-year-old left-arm spinner on his second T20 appearance, spun the odd ball sharply while taking two for 19 from four skilful overs.
In the field, however, Gloucestershire were even better than Kent, with Howell’s clever bag of medium-paced tricks the pick. Last year he was the highest wicket-taker in the competition with 24 at 16.04. His two for 12 last night at Canterbury helped to strangle a reply that began brightly, but faded once Jimmy Neesham and Sam Billings fell to successive balls in the 11th over, from Tom Smith, with Billings caught low at cover for 15. Ultimately, 19 from the last over was beyond Kent’s tail.