England v South Africa, 2012

At Bristol, August 22. South Africans won by three wickets. Gloucestershire 261 (49.5 overs) (D. M. Housego 132; R. McLaren 3-29); ‡South Africans 262-7 (49 overs) (R. S. Bopara 3-43). County debut: R. S. Bopara.

When Gloucestershire issued an appeal for a guest player to spice up this fixture, the ECB volunteered Ravi Bopara - desperate for a score after a miserable run of form and problems in his personal life. He failed again, making three from 14 balls before nicking Ryan McLaren behind, but kept the run-chase interesting by taking three wickets. The South Africans were made to work for victory by a maiden one-day hundred from the confident Dan Housego, who had been discarded by Middlesex over the winter.