After losing the toss and being asked to bowl first, the Gloucester attack initially found stubborn resistance from the Upper Hunter top order. It was not until the score reached 35 Gloucester made its initial breakthrough with Muz Bowden taking the wicket.

Upper Hunter rallied again to reach 62 before Mick Fraser took the first of his five wickets. Another partnership saw Upper Hunter reach 91 just before the first drinks break when Captain Nathan Middlebrook secured a vital wicket to have the hosts 3-91. Middlebrook continued after the break and proceeded to snare two more wickets with his next two deliveries to take his first ever hat trick. The last wicket coming about thanks to an amazing in close catch from Jason Wenham, only to be outdone by Middlebrook’s wild celebrations.

Upper Hunter steadied to put on one more significant partnership before Mick Fraser cleaned up the tail to claim figures of 5-22. Middlebrook in support with 4-31 leaving Gloucester to chase down 181 for victory. The chase started soundly with openers Middlebrook and Ian Sansom reaching 15 before Middlebrook was trapped in front lbw. The wickets of Sansom and Higgins fell to leave Gloucester 3-47.

This brought Rawdon Vale pair Mick Fraser and Adam Cameron to the crease who laid a fourth wicket partnership of 135 to guide Gloucester to a comfortable victory in the end. Fraser finished 75 not out to steal man of the match honours from hat trick bowler Nathan Middlebrook. Adam Cameron finished with 59 not out.

Captain Middlebrook spoke highly of the stand saying “Mick and Adam’s partnership was fantastic, at 3-47 we needed them to steady the ship”. Middlebrook said the team is “looking forward to its next challenge” against an unknown team as yet . When asked if he could pinpoint a reason for the stunning victory against last year’s finalists in the Country Plate on their home turf, he said “the boys are loving their cricket at the moment, all players have committed to the concept and are being rewarded for their efforts”. Gloucester is now into Round 4 of the NSW Country Plate which will be played on Sunday December 6 against a team to be determined by other results.