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Alleyne swings the issue Gloucestershire's way

Gloucestershire (116-2) bt Derbyshire (112) by 8 wkts

Derbyshire, lacking the services of Dominic Cork, Phil DeFreitas, Matt Cassar and Karl Krikken, proved no match for a Gloucestershire side now apparently recovered from their early season malaise.

Put in on a firm, dry pitch, Derbyshire were skittled out in 41.2 overs, man of the match Mark Alleyne doing most damage with four for 14. Then Tim Hancock, 54, led the way as Gloucestershire knocked off the runs.

Alleyne's decision to field first was based on the presence of early cloud cover. ``The forecast for the afternoon was hot sun,'' he said. ``So we thought we should bowl first when the ball was likely to swing.''

In the event there was movement off the seam, too, Jack Russell catching Adrian Rollins' inside edge off the bowling of Jon Lewis, who then had Steve Titchard brilliantly held by the diving Alleyne at second slip.

Lewis, bowling well within himself, maintained an excellent line and teased Michael Slater into a number of indiscreet strokes, none of them fatal. However, Derbyshire's early batting lacked any sense of permanence.

Robin Weston paid the penalty for an unworthy slog and when Slater was run out by Martyn Ball's direct hit from cover, Derbyshire were 59 for four. Alleyne's movement and accuracy ensured they found no way back.

Ian Blackwell soon forced Michael Cawdron straight into point's hands. Then the gifted Ben Spendlove, having played several firm strokes, aimed a big hit at Ball, Lewis judging the catch perfectly just inside the rope at long-on.

Alleyne then switched himself to the Ashley Down End and immediately had Paul Aldred, who had been playing pretty well, lbw aiming towards mid-wicket. The Gloucestershire skipper then cleaned up the tail. Throughout the session, the home side's catching and fielding had been of a very high quality.

When Gloucestershire responded, Kim Barnett, clearly nervous against a club he represented for 20 seasons and captained for 13, was bowled offering no stroke in Kevin Dean's first over. But Hancock and Matt Windows dug in determinedly.

Dean passed the outside edge more than once and his sharp inswing hit both batsmen on their pads, bringing passionate appeals. Hancock, though, driving powerfully straight and wide of mid-on and Windows, cutting and cover-driving sweetly, got on top. However, both were troubled by Blackwell whose slow left-armers occasionally turned sharply.

Any gremlins in the pitch had clearly departed as the pair added 97 in increasing comfort before Hancock drove Blackwell into mid-on's hands. He had faced 93 balls and hit eight boundaries.

Enter Russell, who had earlier beaten Bob Taylor's tally of 66 victims in Gillette/NatWest games by catching Steve Griffiths off Alleyne. When Russell clipped the winning four, Gloucestershire still had 16.5 overs in hand.