James Benning took Surrey on an audacious run chase in the C&G Trophy at Bristol which failed by two runs with a ball to go.

Surrey had faced Gloucestershire's daunting score of 339 for eight but the 23-year-old opener hammered away until victory was there to be gained in the last 10 overs.

But he could not find anyone to stay with him until Neil Saker arrived at number 11.

In seven overs they spread panic in the field hitting off 57 runs and going into the final over needing eight to win.

That came down to three off two balls when Saker then hit a Carl Greenidge to mid-wicket and set off for a single but Craig Spearman's scoop and throw was too accurate for him.

Saker was still his side's second highest scorer with 22, way behind the towering performance of Benning who ran up 189 off 146 balls.

Never before a one-day century maker he carried his bat with four sixes and 28 fours.

It had all looked so different when the home side's Ian Harvey showed his long-standing passion for one-day cricket with a century but it was a 23-year-old unknown who took to Gloucestershire hearts.

David Brown, brought in for his senior match, crashed an astonishing unbeaten 63 off 26 balls after failing to score off the first four.

He hit five sixes and seven fours in a late assault which eventually was to prove the vital difference between the sides.

Surrey were immediately undermined by losing Jonathan Batty and Mark Butcher to successive balls from Greenidge.

But a confident Benning led them into a compelling run chase although he gave away two possible chances.

With neither side challenging for a place in the final it was a Sunday game with no pressure, ideal for the televised presentation with its free-hitting big shots.

Harvey delighted the four sponsors who have underwritten his return to the west country after two years with Yorkshire as he racked up his second trophy hundred of the summer off 80 balls. He had hit 15 fours on 108 when he was rather bizarrely run out. Rejecting a single he was dawdling outside the crease when wicketkeeper threw down his stumps. Harvey jabbed his bat down and it was a close call.

His best partnership was 108 with New Zealander Hamish Marshall for the fourth wicket. They scored freely off some rather hapless bowling with Saker in particular having trouble with his line.

Gloucester, who had made six changes from their Championship side, wondered whether Brown would be able to repeat his batting success as a bowler.

He could not and, after being walloped for 24 in just two overs, Harvey, who had not intended to bowl, came on as his replacement.

Sharp in the field Gloucester were soon to be spread by the irrepressible Benning but pulled together just in time.