Date-stamped : 14 May97 - 06:16 Cowdrey leads recovery By David Green at Bristol Gloucestershire (25-0) need 215 runs to beat Kent (239-7) AN inventive innings of 77 by Graham Cowdrey helped to rescue group leaders Kent from early troubles after they had chosen to bat on an easy-paced pitch. He put on 102 for the fourth wicket with Nigel Llong, who scored 49, as they engineered Kent`s recovery from 39 for three. Kent, without high-scoring left-hander Matthew Walker, who has a thigh strain, made a miserable start, Mike Smith`s inswing defeating Trevor Ward`s projected drive and Matthew Fleming front-edging to mid-off as he heaved across Shaun Young`s outswing. When Alan Wells - earlier given a reprieve thanks to a missed stumping opportunity by Jack Russell - edged Mark Alleyne low into the safe hands of Monte Lynch at slip for 12, Kent were a most unpromising 39 for three after 13 overs but Cowdrey met the crisis boldly, carrying the attack to his opponents. Cowdrey is hard to bowl to, playing powerfully off either foot and working the ball cleverly for singles. Llong, after a few whooshes, struck the ball handsomely on the off side and the scoreboard clicked along briskly at five runs an over. Good fielding in the deep by Rob Cunliffe caused Llong`s run out after Cowdrey had called him for a risky third run. Mark Ealham went cheaply and then Russell made up for his earlier miss when he smartly stumped Cowdrey, the Kent batsman having hit two sixes and five fours. Kent were in trouble once more at 168 for six but Steve Marsh and Paul Strang hit hard and ran like rabbits, their partnership of 60 off seven overs ensuring a total they might still defend successfully. Gloucestershire`s innings began briskly with Lynch in typically enterprising form, but rain intervened after four overs. The players returned after 10 minutes, two balls were bowled and then a storm of tropical intensity ended the day`s proceedings. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Big rewards from short game Gloucestershire (50-1) drew with Kent (239-7) DESPITE the frustration of having their match against Kent abandoned after only 25 minutes` play at Bristol yesterday, Gloucestershire finished up with ample reward for their efforts. Their share of one point from the game earned them a fixture against the Australians on May 27. Kent`s point gave them top place in the group and a home tie in the quarter-finals, while Gloucestershire`s point put them above Sussex with the reward of hosting a three-day match against the tourists. Only 4.4 overs were bowled yesterday before another heavy shower drenched the already-sodden turf, causing the abandonment. In that time, Gloucestershire doubled their overnight score to 50 for the loss of Tony Wright, bowled by Matthew Fleming for eight. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)