Gloucestershire secured a sensational last-ball two-wicket victory over Glamorgan in the Vitality Blast men’s competition Severnside derby, maintaining their unbeaten start to the tournament with back-to-back wins.
Chasing 158, Gloucestershire needed 15 runs in the final over. Thanks to a composed partnership between Matt Taylor and Kamran Dhariwal, they sealed the win. Taylor’s thick outside edge raced to the boundary on the final delivery, sparking celebrations. Earlier in the innings, Miles Hammond set the platform with a fluent 56 off 31 balls, while Duan Jansen’s fiery 3-27 spell helped restrict Glamorgan.
Glamorgan’s debutant Henry Hurle impressed with a resilient 46, helping his side recover from a precarious 45-5 to post a competitive 157-8. Hurle showcased a mix of elegance and power, including four sixes, helping forge crucial partnerships that pushed Glamorgan close.
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Gloucestershire captain Jack Taylor praised his team’s resilience: “We’re elated to get over the line—it was tight, but we believed we could win. Our bowlers have been brilliant so far, and the club’s move to bring in Duan Jansen has really paid off. Chase dynamics here are tricky with small boundaries, but our batting held firm when it mattered.”
Glamorgan head coach Richard Dawson acknowledged the effort: “It’s tough to lose so narrowly, especially after yesterday. Hurle was exceptional, coming in at 45-5 and steering the innings. Mason’s bowling kept us in the game, but we just fell short of the total needed to defend.”
Glamorgan’s innings wobbled early as Jansen struck thrice in two overs, sending back Will Smale, Alex Horton, and Kiran Carlson cheaply. However, a spirited recovery led by Hurle and Chris Cooke injected momentum, with late hitting from Timm van der Gugten—who smashed three sixes—pushing the score to a defendable total.
Gloucestershire’s chase suffered an early blow, slipping to 7-3 inside two overs. Hammond’s aggressive play provided the backbone, with support from Jack Taylor and a calm Dhariwal. Notably, James Bracey was dismissed in a rare manner—dislodging his own stumps while attempting to kick the ball away.
In the nail-biting finish, Dhariwal (30 not out) held his nerve alongside Taylor, guiding Gloucestershire to a memorable victory as Taylor’s four on the last ball sealed the contest.