NatWest Quarter-final: Glamorgan v Gloucestershire Sean Beynon at Cardiff - 28 July 1999 CricInfo report

Gloucestershire earned themselves a berth in the Natwest Trophy Semi-finals with a crushing victory over Glamorgan at Cardiff on Wednesday. The Bristol- based side are earning a reputation as being one of the toughest one-day sides on the circuit, and Wednesday's performance will only strengthen those thoughts. A target of 275 seemed tough for the Welshmen, their reply ending rather weakly, bowled out for 138.

Glamorgan, did though make the ideal start to the day, winning the toss. It may have seemed slightly odd that Matthew Maynard chose to field first on a sunny morning, a decision which he would live to regret.

After surviving some early scares, the Gloucester openers Hancock and Barnett set about building a stable platform, putting on 142 for the first wicket. The experienced Barnett pushed quick singles, hitting only two boundaries in his 100 ball knock which yielded him 68 runs. It was a tired shot that accounted for Barnett, lofting a drive to a gleeful Kallis at cover. Hancock stuck to the task and went about proving that he is indeed a very talented cricketer. He was particularly strong through the on side, finally becoming the fourth wicket to fall bowled trying to hit across the line 10 runs short of his century.

Gloucestershire found themselves reduced to 228-6, after a collapse in which spinner Robert Croft took 4 wickets. After removing Barnett, he induced Cunliffe into a big drive and bowling him off an inside edge. Ian Harvey, sent in to force the pace hit Croft for a big six over long-off, only to be caught the next ball attempting the same shot. Alleyne also tried a big drive unsuccessfully, and Russell became Owen Parkin's only victim, slogging high to Glamorgan skipper Maynard. An unbeaten stand of 46 between Matt Windows and Jeremy Snape gave Gloucestershire the impetus that they were looking for, four boundaries were struck in the last over alone.

A capacity crowd at Sophia gardens may have expected to see a close finish in the sunshine, with Glamorgan's batting line-up boasting four internationals first up. However within less than an hour all four were removed, with Glamorgan all but out of the tie, reeling at 36-4. Ian Harvey accounted for Robert Croft thanks to a sharp return catch, with Croft's opening partner Stephen James being sent back to the pavilion after a direct-hit from Tim Hancock. Kallis cut fiercely at Smith only to be caught behind, and Maynard had his off-bail dislodged thanks to a swinging ball from the same bowler. Smith finished his ten overs with two wickets costing just 19 runs.

From that point the game as a contest was over. Alun Evans and Adrian Dale hung around for a while, Dale the only batsman to look relatively free, his 38 coming from only 41 balls. A shambolic mix-up between Darren Thomas and Dean Cosker, which led to the former being dismissed, opitimised the day for Glamorgan. When Cosker spooned a catch to Martyn Ball to end the match, Glamorgan's torment was over, whilst Gloucestershire will have been delighted, truly outclassing their opponents, and in sight of Lord's again.