Alleyne steers Gloucestershire to last-gasp victory

reports from Cheltenham

Young Australia 262-4 Gloucestershire 265-8 Gloucs win by two wickets

A brilliant 102 not out by Gloucestershire's acting captain, Mark Alleyne, took his side to a thrilling victory over Young Australia with three balls to spare yesterday. Alleyne came in at 14 for 2 and saw Gloucestershire sink to 30 for 3 before Andrew Symonds began the fightback with an excellent 51.

Alleyne was then joined by Bobby Dawson, and against Young Australia's boringly similar attack they began to hit the ball well, putting on 101 before Dawson was bowled.

Sixteen runs were needed from the final two overs. Reggie Williams was immediately bowled by his namesake, who was then picked up square by Alleyne for six, leaving seven from the last over. Alleyne reached his 100 when he cover-drove the first ball for four and victory came when Kevin Cooper pull-drove the third for four more.

YOUNG AUSTRALIA

M T G Elliott c Alleyne b Ball 51

M L Hayden c Ball b Sheeraz 46

R T Ponting c Alleyne b R C Williams 2

S G Law not out 76

M L Love c Dawson b Cooper 49

J L Langer not out 24

Extras (lb5, w7, nb2) 14

Total (for 4, 48 overs) 262

Fall: 1-74, 2-81, 3-133, 4-211.

Did Not Bat: J Angel, B D Williams, M S Kasprowicz, S P George, M A Harrity.

Bowling: Sheeraz 11-1-57-1; Cooper 11-3-43-1; R C Williams 11-1-68-1; Ball 10-0-52-1; Alleyne 5-0-37-0.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE

A J Wright c Ponting b Harrity 6

M G N Windows c Ponting b Angel 11

R J Cunliffe c Ponting b Harrity 2

M W Alleyne not out 102

A Symonds c Williams b George 50

R I Dawson b Williams 39

R C Williams lbw b Williams 1

M C J Ball c Hayden b Law 20

R J C Williams b Williams 0

K E Cooper not out 5

Extras (lb8, w11, nb10) 29

Total (for 8, 47.3 overs) 265

Fall: 1-12, 2-14, 3-30, 4-105, 5-206, 6-214, 7-241, 8-248. Did Not Bat: K P Sheeraz.

Bowling: Harrity 8-0-29-2; Angel 11-0-43-1; Williams 11-1-57-3; Kasprowicz 9-0-50-0; George 5-0-39-1; Law 3.3-0-39-1. Umpires: M J Kitchen and V A Holder.