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Ward paves victory path

Kent (192-7) bt Gloucs (176-9) by 16 runs

Though Jack Russell and Ian Harvey batted defiantly after their early batsmen had failed, Gloucestershire still lost their third successive National League game, an evil portent for Sunday's NatWest semi-final against Yorkshire.

Gloucestershire put Kent in on a humid afternoon but, Mike Smith apart, their seam bowlers responded poorly. Trevor Ward made an aggressive 58 and was well supported by Ed Smith in a second-wicket stand of 86.

Wickets fell steadily thereafter, but Nigel Llong, dropped off a dolly when eight and otherwise assisted by slovenly fielding, contributed a useful unbeaten 31 as the lower order scored a valuable 59 runs from the last 10 overs.

Gloucestershire's target looked attainable but, after Julian Thompson and Mark Ealham had reduced them to 39 for four, the Russell-Harvey heroics were gallant but irrelevant.

Mark Alleyne took 17 balls to get off the mark and Matt Windows 18 as Gloucestershire fell further out of contention. Relegation in this competition, as in the championship, is now a distinct possibility.