Bangladesh Test player Abu Rahi smashed an unbeaten 99 from just 45 balls to set up a stunning win for Gloucester on Saturday.

The 31-year-old arrived at the wicket with the home side 175-6 in the 38^th over after they had been put into bat by Thornbury 2nds.

What followed next was quite remarkable as Gloucester’s overseas player, who arrived in this country only on Friday and was playing his first game for the club, hit the ball to all parts.

He smashed nine fours and eight sixes as Gloucester finished on 326-6 at the end of their 50 overs.

“It was brilliant,” said Gloucester skipper Craig Collinson. “His sixes came mainly down the ground.

“He hits the ball hard, he’s not a big lad but he just times it, he hit a couple of lovely cover drives.”

Rahi then opened the bowling and took 2-31 in his five overs – he also ran out opener Joshua Parcell off his own bowling – as Thornbury were shot out for 131 in 26.2 overs.

“He’s a seam bowler, he’s actually a bowler rather than a batsman,” added Collinson.

While Rahi made the early inroads - his wickets came in his first and third overs - the Gloucester bowling honours went to Raju Devendran who took 5-12 from his five overs as the visitors lost their last five wickets for two runs.

Earlier, a fifth-wicket partnership of 82 between Tom Collinson (37) and Jack Whiting (38) provided the platform for Rahi’s heroics, while wicketkeeper Joe Sligh made an unbeaten 34 from 34 balls in partnership with Rahi.

It was Gloucester’s first win in four attempts in the Gloucestershire Division of the West of England Premier League and Collinson is hoping his side can now kick on, starting at Frocester 2nds on Saturday.