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Capel and his men set for a huge week

The Steelbacks head into this evening's Twenty20 Cup clash with the Gloucestershire Gladiators knowing a victory is vital if they are to boost their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals.

The Gladiators enjoyed a 61-run victory against Worcestershire at Kidderminster yesterday – just two days after Northants were beaten by five runs on the same ground.

It means Gloucestershire are now in pole position to claim second place in the Midlands/ West/Wales Division with Warwickshire Bears sitting pretty at the top.

But a victory for the Steelbacks at Campbell Park in Milton Keynes this evening would throw the race wide open with clashes against the Bears and Somerset Sabres to follow at Wantage Road later in the week.

And coach David Capel insists his players have had enough of being beaten by narrow margins after that five-run defeat on
Friday.

He said: "We have been disappointed to come second in such close matches recently.

"We were beaten by 12 runs at Warwickshire and five at Worcestershire and I think we have had enough of that.

"There are areas we have to work on. But in both those matches we were in contention to chase down the scores only to be denied in the final couple of overs or so.

"I don't mind admitting that on Friday in particular the defeat hurt. I think that sort of thing is going to hurt anyone in that position.

"But we will work hard and be ready for the next game. We have three big matches this week and I know the lads will be looking forward to them."

Capel looks set to name an unchanged squad for today's match after the chances of Monty Panesar being included drifted away when he played in England's comfortable win over the West Indies in the first one-day international at Lord's yesterday.

The Gladiators were indebted to Hamish Marshall as they coasted to victory at Chester Road yesterday.

His superb 55-ball 100 led the way for Gloucestershire as they stormed to a win.

The Kiwi opener scored over half of the visitors' runs as he smashed 10 fours and six sixes in his century.

Even three wickets for Kabir Ali could not stem the flow as Gloucestershire posted 198 for seven.

And, despite Graeme Hick's 31 after his century against the Steelbacks on Friday, Worcestershire never looked like chasing it down – eventually slumping to 137 all out as spinner Ian Fisher took three for 12.

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