Gloucestershire beat winless Surrey in One-Day Cup

Cameron Bancroft hit his first List A century for Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire got their One-Day Cup campaign off and running at the third attempt as they beat winless Surrey.

Something had to give at The Oval as both sides went into the Group B contest having lost their opening two games.

But, largely thanks to a century from Cameron Bancroft, it was the visitors who came out on top, defending their total of 301 to bowl out Surrey for 264 and win by 37 runs.

Ryan Patel made 87 for Surrey, while wicketkeeper Josh Blake hit his first fifty for the county as the hosts briefly threatened to rally in a seventh-wicket stand of 85 with Conor McKerr.

But four wickets for Matt Taylor, including former England Test opener Dom Sibley and Ben Geddes at the top of the order, had left them with too much to do.

After Surrey won the toss and chose to bowl, they might have quickly regretted their decision when Bancroft put on 79 for the first wicket with Miles Hammond (51), followed by a 74-run stand with Ollie Price (32).

At 153-1 in the 28th over, Gloucestershire might have expected a few more. But paceman McKerr (4-32) and leg-spinner Cameron Steel (4-61) took eight wickets between them.

That included the key wicket of Bancroft, fifth out for exactly 100, as Gloucestershire were finally bowled out for 301, after five sixes in a lively 44 from skipper Jack Taylor, with 11 balls unused.

As it was, it was Bancroft's first List A ton for Gloucestershire - and the fifth of his career, having also hit two for Durham and two for Western Australia. And it proved to be a match-winning knock.

Both sides are back in action on Friday.

Gloucestershire meet Yorkshire at Clifton Park in York, while Surrey visit Rugby School to take on unbeaten Group B leaders Warwickshire.

Surrey wicketkeeper Josh Blake hit his first half-century for the county

Wednesday's fixtures

Group A

Derby: Derbyshire v Lancashire

Chester-le-Street: Durham v Somerset

Beckenham: Kent v Hampshire

Group B

Chelmsford: Essex v Leicestershire

The Gnoll, Neath: Glamorgan v Nottinghamshire

Clifton Park, York: Yorkshire v Sussex

Friday's fixtures

Group A

Derby: Derbyshire v Worcestershire

Chester-le-Street: Durham v Northamptonshire

Taunton: Somerset v Lancashire

Group B

The Gnoll, Neath: Glamorgan v Sussex

Rugby School: Warwickshire v Surrey

Clifton Park, York: Yorkshire v Gloucestershire