Date-stamped : 03 May95 - 14:25 Benson & Hedges Round 3 : Gloucestershire v Middlesex Bristol, 2 May 1995 Gloucestershire edge to victory - David Green Gloucestershire (186-8) bt Middlesex (181) by five runs GLOUCESTERSHIRE made it three Benson and Hedges wins out of three with a deserved victory over Middlesex in an absorbing contest at the Phoenix County Ground yesterday. Few of their supporters gave the home side much chance after they had been restricted to 186 for eight in their 55 overs. Howev- er, accurate bowling on a slow, low pitch and some tigerish fielding saw them home. Gold Award winner Javagal Srinath, who finished with three for 26, struck two crucial blows for Gloucestershire when, in his fourth over, he had Mike Gatting deftly caught at slip and next ball trapped Mark Ramprakash lbw. Middlesex responded with some positive batting from Jason Pooley (47) and John Carr (40) who put on 64 together before Mark Al- leyne found Pooley`s outside edge. Then Martyn Ball`s off-spin accounted for Paul Weekes and John Carr. Middlesex, needing 58 from the last 10 overs, had a chance while Keith Brown was there but after Tony Wright`s direct hit had run him out and John Emburey had fallen to Srinath, Gloucestershire`s win was assured. Gloucestershire, who were put in, made things difficult for them- selves in the first session during which, admittedly, the ball did swing. Monte Lynch`s misjudgment of a short single to square leg saw him comfortably run out by Pooley`s direct hit. Then Wright got a good one from David Follett whose rather clomping approach pre- cedes a classic side-on delivery. Bobby Dawson, well set, holed out at long-on to the accurate Em- burey, Andrew Symonds following suit in Emburey`s next over, and Gloucestershire went into lunch looking distinctly groggy at 106 for five from 38 overs. Fortunately for them Alleyne (42) put bat to ball effectively and when he was caught behind trying to run the ball to third man Jack Russell took over, making a crucial unbeaten 34 in his own distinctive style. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)