GLOUCESTERSHIRE suffered a third defeat in a row in all competitions as Glamorgan edged home in the Clydesdale Bank 40 match at Cardiff on Sunday.

After deciding to bat first, the Gladiators were restricted to 154-8 with an unbeaten 40 from Will Gidman lifting them to a respectable total.

However, it proved to be too little as Glamorgan opener Gareth Rees hit 59 not out to help lead his side home by four wickets with ten balls to spare.

David Payne (2-22) was the pick of Gloucestershire’s bowlers but Ireland international Kevin O’Brien had a disappointing debut, scoring three with the bat and bowling just two overs for 13 runs.

Gidman has undoubtedly shone the most out of Gloucestershire’s winter recruits so far, but his fine individual performance in the County Championship clash against Northamptonshire was not enough to stop his side falling to defeat by an innings and six runs.

The 26-year-old scored 197 runs in the match without being out, hitting his maiden first class century in the first innings (116) followed by an unbeaten 81 in the second innings.

However, Gloucestershire were bowled out for 288 and 263 respectively after letting Northants off the hook in their first innings, the visitors recovering from 125-5 to reach 557-9 declared with Niall O’Brien (166) and James Middlebrook (109) scoring centuries.