Bob Willis Trophy: Ryan Higgins takes 7-42 as Gloucestershire beat Warwickshire

Ryan Higgins' previous best figures were 5-21 in a Championship game against Sussex in 2018

All-rounder Ryan Higgins struck three times in an over on his way to career-best figures of 7-42 as Gloucestershire clinched a 78-run victory over Warwickshire.

Higgins claimed wickets with the first, third and sixth deliveries of his second over with the new ball reducing the visitors to 4-3, chasing a target of 239.

Warwickshire never fully recovered and were eventually dismissed for 160, Matt Taylor (2-27) removing Alex Thomson and Henry Brookes with successive deliveries.

Skipper Will Rhodes top-scored with 48, while Higgins ended with match figures of 11-96 after Gloucestershire had reached 275 in their second innings to set up the win.

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It was hard on Bears seamer Oliver Hannon-Dalby, who earlier in the day had completed even more impressive match figures of 12-110 by claiming all four wickets after Gloucestershire had resumed on 197-6 in their second innings.

Jack Taylor, unbeaten on 23 overnight, fell lbw for 34 in Hannon-Dalby's opening spell and he later returned to clean up the tail with the second new ball.

Lunch was taken before Warwickshire began their second innings with a minimum of 65 overs to chase 239.

But Higgins' second over proved a triple-wicket maiden as he had Rob Yates caught off a leading edge and quickly followed up by dismissing Sam Hain leg-before and Ian Bell caught behind.

Warwickshire were in disarray, but Rhodes and Matt Lamb staged a partial recovery and had taken the score to 50 in the 19th over when Lamb was bowled for 14 by a full delivery from Josh Shaw.

Rhodes was unbeaten on 48 at tea, only for Higgins to strike with the first ball of the evening session, as the Warwickshire captain nicked a low leg-side catch to wicketkeeper Gareth Roderick.

At 80-5, the visitors had the choice of continuing the run-chase or trying to bat out for a draw. The latter became a more obvious course when Michael Burgess fell leg before to Higgins.

Taylor then struck his double blow, helped by a strange choice of shot in the circumstances from Alex Thomson, who pulled a short ball straight to Jack Taylor at deep square.

The next delivery saw Brookes trapped leg-before for his second duck of the game and, with the score 109-8, Gloucestershire had 23 overs to claim the last two wickets.

Their former player Craig Miles was brilliantly caught low at first slip by Chris Dent for 12 to give Higgins a sixth wicket.

Last man Hannon-Dalby and the stubborn Tim Bresnan battled away for almost 12 overs, but it was all over when the former edged Higgins through to Roderick with a possible 4.5 overs remaining.

Gloucestershire head coach Richard Dawson:

"I was just wondering whether we had run out of steam when the final wicket fell.

"Ryan Higgins is like the heartbeat of our team. The way he goes about his work is brilliant and he fully deserved his best bowling figures in an innings and a match.

"At the start of the day we were under pressure to occupy the crease and score runs. George Scott's 44 not out was crucial in that respect and he also did well with the ball, as well as showing himself to be a proper fielder.

"Matt Taylor also bowled a crucial spell first thing after lunch, hardly conceding a run, and we were able to keep Warwickshire under pressure."

Warwickshire first team coach Jim Troughton:

"We probably won more sessions in the game, but the periods we lost were lost heavily and that made the difference.

"Losing Will Rhodes, caught behind down the leg side to the first ball after tea, and then Michael Burgess to an lbw decision knocked the stuffing out of us.

"We still felt in with a chance of winning to that point. In the end it was a shame because Oli Hannon-Dalby performed brilliantly with the ball, well supported by Bresnan and Miles.

"We did a lot of things well, but have to look at those spells in the game when we let it slip."

Match report supplied by PA Media.