Stirling outshines McCullum but Middlesex fall short
Middlesex 159-9 (20 ov): Stirling 60, Voges 52*; Howell 2-23
Gloucestershire 163-6 (19.5 ov): Dent 45; Roland-Jones 2-28, Stirling 1-17
Gloucestershire (2 pts) beat Middlesex (0 pts) by four wickets
There were no fireworks on his Middlesex debut from Brendon McCullum as Gloucestershire overhauled a target of 160 with a ball to spare in the gloom at Northwood.
Former New Zealand captain McCullum, who made a competition-best 158 for Warwickshire last season, was out in the first over for six while England captain Eoin Morgan made 13.
Half-centuries from Paul Stirling (pictured) and Adam Voges took their side to 159-9 and Gloucestershire seemed to be up against it when Toby Roland-Jones removed their most experienced pair, Michael Klinger and Hamish Marshall, in his opening two overs.
But Chris Dent (45), Ian Cockbain (40) and Benny Howell (37) kept them in the hunt and Gareth Roderick held his nerve in the final over, with nine runs needed.
Harry Podmore conceded just two singles off the first three balls but Roderick carved the next delivery to the backward-point boundary before hoisting him over mid-wicket for six to seal a four-wicket that maintained Gloucestershire’s unbeaten record in nine T20 matches against Middlesex.
