Green guides Gloucestershire to rare red-ball victory

Cam Green's spell playing county cricket in England's West country is a brief one, but Bristolians will not forget him in a hurry, and nor will Kent's beleaguered bowling attack.

The Australian allrounder has made an unbeaten 67 off 90 balls to steer Gloucestershire to a tense three-wicket victory over Kent in Bristol, ensuring his first innings century did not go to waste.

It was Gloucestershire's first win of the season, and their first home red ball victory since September 2022.

Glos were set 162 to win on Monday's fourth and final day after Kent had been dismissed for 253 in their second innings, with Green taking a one-handed second-slip screamer for the final wicket.

Kent's Grant Stewart – born in Kalgoorlie, raised in NSW and playing for Kent on his Italian passport through his mother’s side - added 41 to his match tally, having made a remarkable career-best 182 off 189 balls in the first innings.

The home team lost former Australia opener Cameron Bancroft, their captain, for seven as they slumped to 4-57 but Green and James Bracey, who shared a 222-run fifth-wicket partnership in the first dig, again combined well.  

After Green was reprieved on three, Jack Leaning missing a sharp chance at second slip off Kashif Ali, he and Bracey took the score to 121. With no time pressure Glos looked to be cruising.

But Nathan Gilchrist dismissed Bracey then had Graeme van Buuren caught for a pair next ball. Green, driving powerfully straight and pulling well, moved to a 50 but Kent further reduced the home side to 7-138.

Green and Zaman Akhter settled the innings and gradually whittled down the target before a scrambled single to point by Green ensured victory.

Green has one more match in his stay with Gloucestershire, which was funded by a mystery benefactor, away to Darren Lehmann's Northamptonshire, before joining Australia for the World Test Championship final.

"He's been an amazing assent for us, on and off the field. I've loved having him around and learning from him," said young opening batter Joe Phillips. 

Green would love to face Kent's modest, injury-hit attack every week, he has made 310 runs for thrice out against them this season, compared to 12 in three innings against other opponents.

Whether that equips him to face Kagiso Rabada and company at Lord's next month remains to be seen.

Elsewhere in Division Two Caleb Jewell fell to veteran English seamer James Anderson for the second time in the match, dismissed for 12 as Derbyshire ground out a draw against Lancashire at Old Trafford.

Set 329 to win the visitors were never in contention, finishing on 8-220 with Anderson taking 2-25 off 26 overs.

The result left Lancashire bottom, four points behind Lehmann's Northants with work to do for new Red Rose captain Marcus Harris.

In contrast Leicestershire, captained by Peter Handscomb, are 38 points clear at the top.

In Division One Surrey defeated Yorkshire by an innings and 28 runs despite Jonny Bairstow's 77. South Australia's Jordan Buckingham had followed his first innings three and 0-66 with a golden duck.

That moved the defending champions top after previous leaders Nottinghamshire lost by seven wickets at Durham.

Australians in County Cricket for 2025

Derbyshire: Caleb Jewell

Durham: Brendan Doggett (April-May)

Essex: Maddie Penna (T20 Blast only)

Glamorgan: Marnus Labuschagne

Gloucestershire: Cameron Bancroft, Cameron Green (April-May)

Hampshire: Ellyse Perry (July), Charli Knott (April-July), Jack Edwards (April-May)

Kent: Wes Agar, Tom Rogers (T20 Blast only)

Lancashire: Chris Green (June-July), Marcus Harris, Ashton Turner (June-July), Alana King (June-July), Katie Mack (April-June)

Leicestershire: Peter Handscomb

Northamptonshire: Lloyd Pope (T20 Blast only), Liam Guthrie (local player), Harry Conway (May)

Nottinghamshire: Moises Henriques (T20 Blast only), Fergus O'Neill (until April 28), Daniel Sams (T20 Blast only), Heather Graham (May-July)

Somerset: Riley Meredith, Amanda-Jade Wellington

Surrey: Grace Harris (T20 Blast only), Kurtis Patterson (May)

Sussex: Daniel Hughes, Nathan McAndrew (June-July), Gurinder Sandhu (June-July)

Warwickshire: Beau Webster

Worcestershire: Ben Dwarshuis (T20 Blast only)

Yorkshire: Will Sutherland (T20 Blast + 2 County), Jordan Buckingham (four matches in May)

2025 Division One standings

Team	Matches played M	Wins W	Losses L	Drawn D	Deductions Ded.	Batting Bonus Bat	Bowling Bonus Bowl	Total points PTS
1 Surrey Men SRY	9	3	0	6	0	23	21	140
2 Nottinghamshire Men NOT	9	4	1	4	0	21	22	139
3 Sussex Men SSX	9	3	2	4	0	16	27	123
4 Somerset Men SOM	9	3	2	4	1	14	24	117
5 Warwickshire Men WAR	9	2	1	6	0	17	20	117
6 Durham Men DUR	9	2	3	4	0	21	23	108
7 Hampshire Men HAM	9	2	2	5	0	9	24	105
8 Yorkshire Men YRK	9	2	4	3	1	12	24	91
9 Essex Men ESS	9	1	3	5	0	9	23	88
10 Worcestershire Men WOR	9	1	5	3	0	8	25	73

Legend

M: Matches played

W: Wins

L: Losses

D: Drawn

Ded.: Deductions

Bat: Batting Bonus

Bowl: Bowling Bonus

PTS: Total points

2025 Division Two standings

Team	Matches played M	Wins W	Losses L	Drawn D	Deductions Ded.	Batting Bonus Bat	Bowling Bonus Bowl	Total points PTS
1 Leicestershire Men LEI	9	5	1	3	0	27	26	157
2 Derbyshire Men DBY	9	2	1	6	0	23	23	126
3 Glamorgan Men GLA	9	3	2	4	1	23	22	124
4 Gloucestershire Men GLO	9	1	2	6	0	23	24	111
5 Northamptonshire Men NOR	9	2	3	4	0	20	24	108
6 Lancashire Men LAN	9	1	2	6	0	16	22	102
7 Middlesex Men MSX	9	3	4	2	0	12	23	99
8 Kent Men KEN	9	2	4	3	0	14	19	89

Legend

M: Matches played

W: Wins

L: Losses

D: Drawn

Ded.: Deductions

Bat: Batting Bonus

Bowl: Bowling Bonus

PTS: Total points