Gloucestershire run riot as Short’s 92 inspires big win over Surrey

Gloucestershire batting - 191/5

D'Arcy Short 92_ off 56 balls led the way. The Australian opener hit 8 fours and 4 sixes at a strike rate of 164.29 and carried his bat. He got good support from Dawid Malan 28 off 19 and captain Jack Taylor 40 off 26. Gloucestershire posted 191/5 in 20 overs. Surrey batting - 134 all out.

Short went to a 33-ball half-century, taking advantage of some inconsistent Surrey bowling on a pitch with more pace than the usual Bristol surfaces. The visitors were forced to bring an extra fielder into the ring in the 19th over having failed to meet the cut-off time. Kamran Dharilwal had just been caught off a Sean Abbott no-ball and sent the resulting free hit straight for six. It proved his only scoring shot, but Short, who had offered one difficult caught and bowled chance to Chris Jordan on 49, otherwise maintained concentration to the end of the innings to ensure his side of a competitive total.

Surrey's reply got off to a bad start when Laurie Evans was caught behind off Scott in the second over attempting a ramp shot. Jason Roy quickly responded with a straight six off Matt Taylor, but fell to the next delivery, miscuing a shot to deep square to leave his team 14 for two. Hayes went for 16 off his first over, but Marchant de Lange quickly removed Josh Phillippe and at the end of the powerplay, Surrey were 48 for three.

Surrey collapsed in reply, bowled out for 134 in 19.4 overs. Gloucestershire’s bowling attack ran through them to complete a big win. Short’s unbeaten 92 was the anchor - he top-scored and set the tempo in Bristol. The 57-run margin made it a proper thrashing. This was a Vitality Blast South Group game, giving Gloucestershire a big boost.