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Gloucestershire complete first CricInfo Championship win of season Dave Bracegirdle - 9 June 2001
Gloucestershire picked up their first Championship win of the season by bowling Notts out for 284 at Trent Bridge to win by 187 runs. Set an impossible 472 for victory the home side began the final day at 61-3. Hopes of batting out for a draw took a severe dent with just the fourth ball of the morning when Usman Afzaal padded up to James Averis and was adjudged lbw. Paul Johnson batted well in making 35 but he, along with nightwatchman David Lucas and Chris Read all fell before lunch. The Gloucs captain Mark Alleyne spilled two chances at slip during the morning session but having dismissed Reed he claimed his second victim, bowling Gareth Clough shortly after the resumption. Chief resistance came from Kevin Pietersen. In his first season of county cricket he is riding high in the national betting averages and he demonstrated his prowess in hitting James Averis for four boundaries in one over just before lunch. Shortly afterwards he advanced to another fine half-century (88mins 62 balls 9x4) and celebrated in style by twice hitting Michael Cawdron for six over midwicket. Attempting a third maximum in the same over proved his undoing, though as Mark Hardinges held a fine catch close to the boundary rope. Although some nearby spectators were indicating that the rope had been touched the umpires, after a brief consultation, gave Pietersen out for 72. The tenth wicket pairing of AJ Harris and Greg Smith added 45 in quick time but the inevitable conclusion came when Smith charged at spinner Martyn Ball and Jack Russell completed the formalities of whipping of the bails. So Notts slip to their third Championship defeat of the campaign and must regroup before Sunday's Norwich Union match, also against Gloucs at Trent Bridge.
© CricInfo
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