MUTTIAH MURALITHARAN believes Gloucestershire need to win at least six of their remaining nine group games to reach the quarter-finals of the Friends Provident t20 cup.

Things haven’t quite gone to plan for the Gladiators since the arrival of their high profile signing for the competition, but the leading wicket taker in Test matches and One-Day Internationals has not given up hope of a place in the last eight yet.

Gloucestershire lost five of their first six games before last Friday’s game against Essex at Bristol was called off due to rain, leaving them one place off the bottom of the Southern section, five points behind fourth-placed Kent At 39, Muralitharan is a veteran in an otherwise very young squad, and he thinks they have struggled due to a lack of experience in t20 cricket.

However, he has seen enough potential in the last three weeks to suggest they can string some results together and finish in the top four of the group.

“If we win about six or seven games we have a chance,” he said.

“We’re not doing very well because we’ve only won one match, but hopefully we’ll win more matches.

“We’re still very young and these things happen.

“Twenty20 is very hard because you never know what’s going to happen. You have to play well.”

While Gloucestershire have been playing Surrey in the County Championship at The Oval this week, Muralitharan has been in Bristol preparing for the next t20 clash against defending champions Hampshire at the Rose Bowl tomorrow (Friday) night.

On Sunday, the Gladiators face Middlesex at Uxbridge but in between Muralitharan will be keeping a close eye on the t20 international between England and Sri Lanka at the County Ground in Bristol.

The off-spinner has seen his country struggle since his retirement after the World Cup Final as they were beaten 1-0 by England in the Test series, but he does not think that will have any bearing on Saturday’s game.

“It’s a different ball game, they’re good at twenty20 so they might win,” said Muralitharan.