Middlesex survive Spearman's swordplay

Middlesex staged a mid-innings fightback after their bowlers again came under fire at Bristol today.

Opening batsmen Craig Spearman and Phil Weston had threatened to send holders Gloucestershire on their way to a huge total in their C&G quarter-final before the loss of five wickets for just 27 runs swung the game back the visitors' way.

Not content with hammering Middlesex for a triple century in last week's championship fixture, former New Zealand Test batsman Spearman made a 52-ball 50. Weston matched him today, reaching 54 before the rot suddenly set in.

First, Weston paddled spinner Paul Weekes to short fine-leg with the score on 118. Then Spearman was run out for 62, Alex Gidman offered Jamie Dalrymple a return catch and Christopher Taylor was another run out victim. And when Mark Alleyne was also caught off the off spin of Weekes, the hosts were in trouble at 145 for five.

Spearman, who plundered 341 off Middlesex last week, today smashed six fours and a six before he was run out.

C&G Trophy quarter-finals Bristol: Gloucester 166-5 (32 overs) v Middlesex Old Trafford: Lancashire 141-3 (33 overs) v Yorkshire Edgbaston: Warwicks 202-4 (32 overs) v Northants

Tour matches Derby: New Zealand 152-2 (32 overs) v Derbyshire Belfast: West Indies 126-3 (26 overs) v Ireland