One-Day Cup: Gloucestershire ease to victory over Leicestershire

Klinger scored 98 against Northants in the One-Day Cup last month

Gloucestershire remained top of the One-Day Cup Group A as they eased to a seven-wicket win over Leicestershire.

The visitors' innings was interrupted by rain and David Payne (4-23) reduced them to 31-4, before Greg Smith (55 not out) pushed them to 136-8 off 25 overs.

Set a revised Duckworth Lewis target of 131, Gloucestershire slipped to 59-3 as Dan Redfern took 2-19.

But Michael Klinger (55 not out) and Will Gidman (39 not out) put on 74 as the hosts won with 13 balls remaining.

Gloucestershire, who finished on 133-3, have now won three of their first four 50-over matches this season, while Leicestershire remain in mid-table with one win from three games.

Payne ran through the Leicestershire top order, including Niall O'Brien caught behind for a second-ball duck, and they were 61-4 from 15 overs when rain arrived to reduce the game to 25-overs per side.

Wickets continued to fall after the interruption, as Jack Taylor claimed 2-43, before Smith hit two fours and a six in the final over to at least give his side something to defend.

After Klinger and Hamish Marshall (22) shared a first-wicket stand of 46 in 8.2 overs, Redfern bowled Chris Dent and had Will Tavare caught at mid-wicket in the same over.

But Klinger, who hit five fours, and Gidman saw the hosts to victory in the 23rd over to maintain Gloucestershire's impressive start to their campaign.

Gloucestershire seam bowler David Payne:

"It was an important toss to win.

"We always like to bowl when rain is about and have been talking about taking wickets up front, so I was delighted to make that contribution."

Leicestershire coach Ben Smith:

"The biggest frustration was not putting all three disciplines together.

"We bowled and fielded well, but in the conditions our batsmen needed to take more time to assess things."