David Payne’s four-wicket haul helped Gloucestershire secure a hard-fought 14-run victory over Birmingham Bears in the 4th Quarter-Final of the Vitality Blast 2024, held at Edgbaston, Birmingham.
Gloucestershire defended a modest total of 138, with Birmingham Bears falling short at 124/9 after their 20 overs. David Payne was the star with the ball for Gloucestershire, taking 4/23 in his 4 overs, including key dismissals that stifled the Bears’ chase.
After opting to bat first, Gloucestershire struggled to build momentum against a disciplined Bears bowling attack. Cameron Bancroft top-scored with a steady 43 off 35 balls, while Miles Hammond chipped in with a quickfire 30 off 24. However, regular wickets halted their progress, with Zakary Foulkes (3/22) and Dan Mousley (2/21) among the key bowlers for Birmingham. Gloucestershire were eventually bowled out for 138 in 19.2 overs.
Chasing 139, Birmingham Bears were never able to get going, losing early wickets. Moeen Ali (27 off 20) provided a solid start, but the middle order faltered. Chris Benjamin tried to steady the ship with 33 off 27, but with David Payne (4/23) and Oliver Price (3/32) chipping in, the Bears’ chase fell 14 runs short, finishing at 124/9 in their 20 overs.
Key Performances:
- David Payne (Gloucestershire) – 4/23 in 4 overs.
- Oliver Price (Gloucestershire) – 3/32 in 4 overs.
- Chris Benjamin (Birmingham Bears) – 33 off 27 balls.
- Cameron Bancroft (Gloucestershire) – 43 off 35 balls.
Brief Scores:
Gloucestershire: 138 all out (Cameron Bancroft 43, Miles Hammond 30, Zakary Foulkes 3/22, Dan Mousley 2/21)
Birmingham Bears: 124/9 (Chris Benjamin 33, Moeen Ali 27, David Payne 4/23, Oliver Price 3/32)
Result: Gloucestershire won by 14 runs.
Player of the Match: David Payne – 4/23
