Surrey booked their place in the quarter-finals of the T20 Blast after clinching a narrow five-run victory over Gloucestershire at Cheltenham.
Batting first, Surrey posted 157-8 with Tillakaratne Dilshan making a quick-fire 36 off 23 balls and Robin Peterson hitting an unbeaten 23.
In response, Gloucestershire were reduced to 15-2 before 45 from captain Michael Klinger steadied their innings.
Jack Taylor hit 18 off the last over as the home side finished on 152-7.
The 22-year-old had impressed earlier with the ball taking 2-20 in his four overs and shared an unbeaten 29-run eighth-wicket partnership with Hamish Marshall (27 not out).
There was an equally impressive bowling performance by Zafar Ansari who took 3-27, having Klinger caught by Matt Dunn before bowling Ian Cockbain (18) and removing Will Gidman for a duck.
The defeat leaves Gloucestershire unable to qualify for the next round, as they are five points behind fourth place Glamorgan with two matches remaining.
Surrey skipper Gary Wilson:
“It was a great effort from the bowlers because we didn’t get a great score.
“The partnership between Peterson and Dernbach at the end of our innings was crucial. Jade has aggravated a hamstring niggle, which is why he didn’t bowl.
“We have managed to qualify for the knock-out stage from what I consider the stronger group and would love to have a quarter-final at The Oval.”
Gloucestershire captain Michael Klinger:
“I’m getting very frustrated because we keep making the same mistakes with some of the basics of T20 cricket.
“Surrey are a very talented side, but we were in a position to beat them today and it didn’t happen.”
