Cricket

Warwickshire's Ed Barnard starred with both bat and ball as they extended their winning streak in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup to five matches with a six-wicket victory over Gloucestershire at Bristol's Seat Unique Stadium.Barnard's all-round brilliance was on full display as he claimed 3 for 16 to restrict Gloucestershire to 267 in 49.4 overs. The in-form allrounder then anchored Warwickshire's chase with a match-winning knock of 152 not out from 134 balls.Barnard's early wickets put Gloucestershire on the back foot, but Jack Taylor's unbeaten 139 kept them in the game. Taylor shared crucial partnerships with Ben Charlesworth and Graeme van Buuren to rescue Gloucestershire from a precarious 43 for 4.However, Barnard's irrepressible bowling and Tazeem Ali's career-best figures of 3 for 55 kept Gloucestershire in check. Warwickshire's spinners, including Ali, Jake Lintott, and Rob Yates, played a significant role in restricting the home side's scoring rate.In response, Warwickshire lost early wickets but Barnard and Hamza Shaikh steadied the ship with a 79-run stand. Shaikh's departure brought Chris Benjamin to the crease, and the duo added a crucial 135 runs for the fifth wicket.Benjamin's unbeaten 45 and Barnard's unwavering concentration saw Warwickshire chase down the target with 2.1 overs to spare. Barnard's second century in five innings broke Gloucestershire's resolve and secured a comfortable victory for the visitors.With this win, Warwickshire remains joint-leaders of Group B alongside Glamorgan. They can virtually guarantee a quarter-final berth by defeating Glamorgan at Edgbaston on Thursday. Gloucestershire, on the other hand, faces an uphill battle to qualify for the knockout stages and will need to beat Sussex in their next game to keep their hopes alive.

Gloucestershire's Jack Taylor led his team to a resounding 121-run victory over Glamorgan in a Vitality Blast encounter at Cheltenham. Taylor's blistering unbeaten 80 from 35 balls, featuring seven sixes and four fours, propelled Gloucestershire to a formidable 206 for 6.Cameron Bancroft (44) and James Bracey (31) provided a solid foundation with a 64-run partnership for the second wicket. Beau Webster's 33 in a rapid 63-run stand with Taylor further boosted the home side's total.Glamorgan's chase faltered from the outset, as they were bowled out for a mere 85 in 15.5 overs. David Payne's exceptional bowling figures of 3 for 7 from three overs set the tone, while Tom Smith and Josh Shaw contributed with 3 for 33 and 2 for 7 respectively.Taylor's innings was a masterclass in power-hitting, as he smashed the Glamorgan bowlers to all parts of the ground. His 24-ball 50 and 19 runs off the final over ensured Gloucestershire's dominance.Glamorgan's top order crumbled under the pressure, with only Colin Ingram (20) offering any resistance. The visitors' powerplay yielded a meager two boundaries, and they never recovered from the early setbacks.Gloucestershire's victory keeps their quarter-final hopes alive, as they remain in fifth place in the South Group. They must now defeat Middlesex in their final game and hope Essex loses to Hampshire to qualify for the knockout stages.

Gloucestershire pulled off a remarkable two-wicket victory over Glamorgan in a thrilling Vitality Blast encounter, thanks to a stunning 70 from Jack Taylor.Glamorgan appeared poised for victory after posting a competitive 140 for 6, with Sam Northeast anchoring their innings with an unbeaten 46. However, Gloucestershire's bowlers fought back, with Matt Taylor claiming 3-21 and Timm van der Gugten impressing with 2-8.Gloucestershire's chase got off to a disastrous start, as they slumped to 45 for 5 in the powerplay. Van der Gugten's miserly spell of four consecutive overs put the visitors on the back foot.But Taylor's brilliant innings turned the tide. The opener struck 70 from just 48 balls, including six fours and three sixes. He was ably supported by Josh Shaw, who hit the winning six off the final delivery.Glamorgan's fielding proved costly in the closing stages, as they dropped three catches that ultimately proved decisive. Carlson and McIlroy both spilled chances to dismiss Taylor, while Northeast dropped Shaw on the penultimate ball.The victory was a testament to Gloucestershire's resilience and determination. Despite facing an uphill battle, they refused to give up and ultimately snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.