FOR Gloucestershire's Royal London One-Day Cup team and fantastic fans Saturday was a triumph. Surrey were beaten on the field and out-cheered off it.

The sound of “Glawster – Glawster” reverberated around Lord's as Surrey wilted and Gloucestershire, so strong in spirit, won.

After man of the match Jack Taylor held the final catch and the match was won the players headed for the massed West Country choirs in the Edrich Stand and in emotional delight sang their victory song.

This is usually heard in privacy of the dressing room but this public rendition, raucously and powerfully sung, was symbolic of the unity of both fans and team. It was impossible not to be moved.

At the ground early, courtesy of an ECB media pass, I was able to wish the team well and speak to both captain Michael Klinger and members of the groundstaff.

They had surprising news. The pitch was very dry so winning the toss would not mean winning the game, and so it proved.

Jade Dernbach bowled magnificently and for many the third ball of his first over, which dismissed our captain, gave the game to Surrey.

Praise must be given to Gareth Roderick. He knew, coming in at number three, exactly what he had to do. Stay in! He did just that.

Gareth might bat like a crab, but he runs like a swordfish to take short singles. His early-innings defiance kept us in the game.

Defiance was a key factor in our victory. Despite being on the back foot for much of the day the team never gave up.

Jack Russell working for Test Match Special was more nervous than when he played. He kept uttering the same words “keep up the pressure and Surrey will crack”. How right he was.

There is a modern phrase about one-day cricket that is now used everywhere. It is “taking the pace off the ball.”

In Cotswold-speak it means bowl more slowly and it is something our bowlers understood.

Somebody should tell the Curran brothers because their combined 15 overs cost 83 runs. Not only were they expensive, they were wicketless. Sam Curran, however, can bat as well and his fluent 37 nearly won the game for Surrey.

Lord's looked magnificent and the weather matched it. Admission to the museum was free and friendly staff were everywhere. Visiting the ground on days like Saturday were uplifting and inspiring. The experience should be available on the National Health.

Two sad notes, the first being the LBW decision that ended the Gloucestershire innings and gave Dernbach his hat-trick was a very poor one. The second was one of the posh Sunday papers saying the result was a triumph for the little guys.

The qualities our team had shown throughout the competition, reliance, team spirit, determination and no little talent are not little words. They are ones that can take you to the heights. On Saturday we we got there.