Gloucestershire 164 for five (Phillips 52) beat Middlesex 163 for 4 (Eskinazi 65*) by 5 wickets
Overseas star Phillips and Jack Taylor added 81 for the fifth wicket in 9 overs as the house facet recovered from 73 for 4 within the eleventh over to set-up a grandstand end. And Benny Howell completed issues off in effective fashion, hitting Tom Helm for six off the penultimate ball to grab a victory that sees Gloucestershire end fifth within the South Group.
Holden offered Middlesex with a turbo-charged begin to their innings, crashing 37 from 19 balls and dominating a gap stand of 57 in 4.3 overs with Eskinazi. The left-hander mixed clear hitting with intelligent improvisation to accrue half a dozen fours and a six, profiting from some unfastened bowling to assist the guests increase 50 from 23 balls.
Gloucestershire held their nerve, weathered the early storm and breathed a collective sigh of aid when Holden miss-timed a drive off Phillips and holed out to Tom Price at lengthy-off. Smith had Joe Cracknell held at backward sq. leg on his method to figures of 1 for 22 from 4 overs, whereas Howell bowled John Simpson to scale back Middlesex to 74 for 3 within the ninth, at which level three wickets had fallen for the addition of 18 runs in 4 overs.
Playing a captain’s innings, Eskinazi set his sights on carrying his bat, sharing a stand of 64 in 8.5 overs with Josh De Caires to restore the injury and a minimum of guarantee Middlesex posted a aggressive complete. It could not have been spectacular fare – his 50 occupied 46 balls – however his innings exerted a steadying affect upon a crew that has struggled to discover a successful method within the quick format this summer season.
Attempting to pressure the difficulty within the closing overs, De Caires skied Jack Taylor to Howell at quick additional cowl for twenty-four as Gloucestershire’s bowlers saved a lid on issues, Howell returning spectacular figures of 1 for 23 from 4 overs. Eskinazi completed unbeaten on 65 from 55 balls, managing simply two fours and two of sixes in a practical knock which proved efficient slightly than memorable.
Gloucestershire’s reply made a stuttering begin, openers George Scott and Chris Dent departing cheaply in a six-over powerplay that noticed the hosts limp to 38 for two within the face of nagging accuracy from Max Harris and Tom Helm. Harris then accounted for James Bracey, the Bristolian holing out to deep mid-wicket in pursuit of a second successive most because the hosts slipped to 52 for 3 within the eighth over.
Phillips and Miles Hammond superior the rating to 72 for 3 at midway, at which level Gloucestershire required an extra 92 runs to win at 9.2 an over. Under strain to speed up, Hammond promptly pulled Thilan Walallawita to deep mid-wicket as Middlesex additional turned the screw. Chris Green, Luke Hollman and Walallawita took the tempo off to good impact in the course of the center a part of the innings because the required price climbed to above ten an over for the primary time.
In his final look for Gloucestershire earlier than teaming up with the New Zealand vacationers, Phillips responded by driving Walallawita for six over lengthy-on after which plundering one other leg-facet most off Jason Behrendorff, whereas Taylor performed second fiddle and rotated the strike expertly to maintain the house facet within the hunt.
With 31 wanted off three overs and the fifth wicket pair properly-established, Gloucestershire will need to have fancied their probabilities of finishing the job. Pacing his innings to perfection, Phillips smashed Helm again over his head for a straight six because the goal got here all the way down to 21 off two overs.
Phillips went to 50 by way of 37 balls, however Green conceded simply eight runs off the penultimate over, leaving Gloucestershire to attain 13 off the final to win. Helm responded magnificently underneath strain, having Phillips caught at deep mid-wicket to place the end result doubtful. But Howell remained cool, crashing the penultimate supply for an almighty six over lengthy-on to win the day.