Why 2016 Royal London One-Day Cup promises much

Gloucestershire defend their trophy in competition that helped light up last summer

The Royal London One-Day Cup was one of the success stories in the county game last summer, and will enjoy an earlier start next year.

The competition begins in early June (rather than late July) with the knockout stages of the competition played during the August school holidays, before the final at Lord’s on September 17. Gloucestershire begin their defence at local rivals Somerset on June 5. The quarter-finals are on August 17/18, and the semi-finals on August 28/29.

There were some great games last year, including: 

• When Kent reached an imposing 317 for 7 in a day-nighter at Sophia Gardens in July, they must have felt confident; but Glamorgan won with three wickets left and only two balls to spare, Colin Ingram making 109 and Chris Cooke using only 54 balls to hit an unbeaten 94. Harsh on Kent’s Darren Stevens, who smashed 110 from only 64 balls.
• Gloucestershire duo Jack Taylor (41 not out, 14 balls) and Benny Howell (33 not out, 30 balls) struck 69 off the last four overs to secure a last-ball win over Derbyshire at Bristol. It was tough on Hamish Rutherford and Wayne Madsen, who scored centuries for the visitors. 
• Gloucestershire were favourites at Leicester on the last day in July after making 315 for 6 (Gareth Roderick 104), but the hosts fought valiantly. Aadil Ali top-scored with 84, and Rob Sayer and Clint McKay added 44 for the last wicket, before Leicestershire fell just one short.
• The semi-final at The Oval was so dramatic. Kumar Sangakkara delivered a one-day masterclass, contributing 166 to a total of 300 for five, but Nottinghamshire never gave up. Greg Smith made 124. Dan Christian (54) and Steven Mullaney (42 not out) kept them in the hunt, but 17-year-old Sam Curran showed maturity beyond his years to help Surrey win by four runs.
• The final was also a low-scoring thriller. Gloucestershire were shocked to lose prolific captain Michael Klinger for a duck, but veteran Geraint Jones, with 50, helped them to 220. Jade Dernbach took an amazing 6 for 35, including a hat-trick. Sangakkara again top-scored for Surrey, making 60, and received good support from Rory Burns (56) and Sam Curran (37).  But Tom Curran, Gareth Batty and Dernbach all fell for ducks, with Surrey losing 8 wickets for 71 runs after being 143 for 2, to give the Glorious Glosters HQ joy again. It was their ninth win in 10 Lord’s finals.