HAMISH Marshall guided Gloucestershire to the top of the

Pro40 League with a match-winning century against Middlesex

under the Bristol floodlights.

The visitors could post only 183-9 after winning the toss,

despite a fighting 82 from Irishman Eoin Morgan. Steve Kirby

bowled with hostility to claim 4-27.

Despite the early loss of Kadeer Ali, Gloucestershire looked

comfortable with their run-chase as Marshall and Mark Hardinges

added 64 in 14 overs.

But there were to be some nerve-racking twists for home

supporters in a good sized crowd before the winning runs were

hit with eight balls and three wickets to spare.

Steady drizzle meant the Middlesex bowlers had to contend

with a wet ball. It was changed with the Gladiators cruising at

74-1 in the 15th over. The following over saw Marshall, on 46,

dropped at mid-off by Steve Finn off the bowling of Shaun

Udal.

But the veteran bowled Hardinges then had Craig Spearman

caught by Gareth Berg. Chris Taylor was bowled swinging across

a flighted delivery from Murali Kartik and at 93-4 Middlesex

were right back in the game.

When David Brown was trapped lbw by a ball from Kartik

Gloucestershire had lost four wickets for 30 runs. Steve

Adshead was bowled by Finn with the score at 143-6 and 41 were

still needed. Newcomer Brendan Drew looked unlucky to be judged

caught behind sweeping at Udal.

But when Marshall reached a magnificent hundred the outcome

was finally decided.

Earlier Middlesex had plunged into trouble at 15-3, having

elected to bat in heavily overcast conditions. Andrew Strauss

was dismissed first ball by Jon Lewis, edging to wicketkeeper

Adshead.

Ed Joyce and Ben Scott fell victim to a fiery opening spell

from Kirby.

The score was only 37-3 at the end of the 15-over fielding

restrictions. But the fourth-wicket pair of Morgan and Dawid

Malan then added 50 in 11 overs.

Malan was well caught by Kirby diving forward at deep

mid-wicket off Hardinges but Morgan looked untroubled in

reaching his half-century.

Berg departed for 23, Tyron Henderson followed without

scoring but Udal contributed 14 before falling to Kirby and

Morgan had progressed to 82 off 93 balls when losing his leg

stump to Lewis.

Kirby clean bowled Tim Murtagh with the final ball of the

innings. Hardinges, Richard Dawson and Brown kept things tight,

but Drew had proved expensive, conceding 50 from his seven

overs.