CLYDESDALE BANK 40, Lord's:
Gloucestershire 246-9 beat Middlesex 169 by 77 runs
(Gloucestershire 2pts)
Match scorecard

Hamish Marshall hit his first one-day half century of the summer at Lord's

Gloucestershire leapfrogged Middlesex into third place in Group B as they pulled off their second Clydesdale Bank 40 win of the season at Lord's.

Hard-hitting former Kiwi Test batsman Hamish Marshall top scored with 85 as his side eased to a 77-run victory.

The visitors' 246-9 was dominated by a 74-run third-wicket stand between Marshall and Jonathan Batty (54).

Middlesex were then bowled out for 169, of which Dawid Malan made 42, seamer Anthony Ireland taking 3-36.

Middlesex's first defeat of the campaign proved an error-strewn run chase under the Lord's floodlights which saw them go down with 51 balls to spare.

The home side never recovered from a miserable start when openers Andrew Strauss, pulling firmly into the hands of Marshall at deep square-leg, and Scott Newman fell inside nine overs.

Owais Shah marched in to pull two sixes into the Tavern Stand off the front foot against Ireland and then drove Steve Kirby wristily through extra cover. But, in aiming for a third six, Shah heaved across the line at left-armer James Franklin only to pick out Jon Lewis at deep fine-leg to end his 32 in 33 balls.

Neil Dexter (16), in trying to force a straight one through the covers, was stumped by Jonathan Batty off Vikram Banerjee, who then bowled Gareth Berg (17) as he aimed through mid-on. And, when Malan was run out by Batty's direct hit after being sent back by non-striker John Simpson, Middlesex's chances went with him.

Marshall's six fours and a six during a 71-ball innings of 85 allowed the visitors to canter along at 6.15 an over after winning the toss.

The stocky, mop-topped right-hander, who turned his back on international cricket at the end of 2007, featured in a stand worth 74 in 11 overs with Batty that helped Gloucestershire recover from a sticky start.

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