Bracey's Record-Breaking 186 Secures Knockout Spot for Unbeaten Gloucestershire
James Bracey smashed the highest individual score of the 2025 Metro Bank One-Day Cup to propel Gloucestershire into the knockout stages with a commanding 52-run victory over Nottinghamshire.
Bracey’s scintillating 186 from 150 balls – laced with 20 fours and six sixes – helped Gloucestershire post a towering 343 for 7, their sixth consecutive win of the tournament. The total proved too steep for the Outlaws, who were bowled out for 291 in the 48th over, leaving their qualification hopes hanging by a thread.
Bracey Dominates with Bat in Historic Knock
The 28-year-old wicketkeeper-batter was in imperious form, compiling the second-highest List A score in Gloucestershire’s history – behind only his own 224* against Somerset in 2023. He shared century stands with both Cameron Bancroft (46) and Ollie Price (34), steering the innings expertly after being dropped on 58 by Ben Slater at long-off.
Bracey reached his hundred from 98 balls and accelerated thereafter, needing just 30 more deliveries to reach 150. His innings was finally ended on 186, reverse sweeping Lyndon James straight to short fine leg, but by then the damage had been done.
While no other batter passed fifty, Bracey’s partnerships laid the foundation. A late wobble saw Gloucestershire lose quick wickets — including two in two balls to Rob Lord (2 for 60) — but their total of 343 for 7 was still well above par.
Outlaws Falter Despite Hameed and Haynes Resistance
Chasing 344, Nottinghamshire were under pressure early, losing Ben Slater and Ben Martindale inside the first five overs. That left captain Haseeb Hameed and in-form Jack Haynes to rebuild.
Haynes notched up his fifth half-century in seven innings, scoring 57 off 66 balls, while Hameed compiled a fluent 80 from 88. But Gloucestershire’s bowlers tightened their grip, and the required rate steadily crept above 10 an over.
Craig Miles (2 for 51) and James Bracey's fellow wicketkeeper Jack Taylor (2 for 47) were among the key contributors with the ball, while Daaryoush Ahmed and Graeme van Buuren chipped in with vital wickets.
As the pressure mounted, Notts lost regular wickets. Hameed was dismissed by van Buuren, who celebrated his 35th birthday with a key breakthrough, and the lower order was unable to sustain the chase.
Lord (27 off 18) and Dane Schadendorf (28 off 22) added some late fireworks, but Gloucestershire closed out the game professionally, with Ollie Price claiming the final wicket to seal a comfortable win.
Match Summary:
Gloucestershire: 343 for 7 (Bracey 186, Bancroft 46, Price 34; Lord 2-60)
Nottinghamshire: 291 all out in 47.3 overs (Hameed 80, Haynes 57; M. Taylor 2-41, J. Taylor 2-47, Miles 2-51)
Result: Gloucestershire won by 52 runs
With this win, Gloucestershire remain the only unbeaten side in Group A, while Nottinghamshire's path to the knockouts now depends on results elsewhere, their qualification hopes all but extinguished.