Rothesay County Championship, Division Two, cinch County Floor, Northampton (day 4)
Northamptonshire 465 & 191-3: Harrison 92*, Zaib 34*, Vasconcelos 33
Gloucestershire 268 & 367 (f/o): Bracey 137*, Bancroft 64; Gross sales 3-57, Guthrie 3-89
Northants (23pts) beat Gloucestershire (3 pts) by seven wickets
Calvin Harrison blazed 92 off 100 balls to propel Northamptonshire to a dramatic seven-wicket victory over Gloucestershire on the ultimate night of their County Championship match at Wantage Highway.
Harrison unleashed three large sixes and 7 fours and was joined by Saif Zaib (34 not out) in a quickfire fourth-wicket stand of 101 runs off 72 balls because the hosts chased down a goal of 191 to win off 36 overs with 13 balls to spare.
Earlier James Bracey scored an impressive unbeaten century which helped arrange the run chase and prolong the match into the ultimate session.
Bracey’s 148 was his second century of the season and solely Gloucestershire’s third three-figure rating of the summer season.
It adopted his 72 within the first innings and his runs had been largely liable for preserving Gloucestershire within the sport as he prolonged his in a single day eighth-wicket partnership with Daz Ahmed to 83.
Northamptonshire appeared in management in a single day with Gloucestershire seven wickets down following on, however Bracey continued accumulating as the sport drifted for a time in opposition to a tired-looking bowling assault, who had been within the area for nearly three days.
Gloucestershire, although, had been finally dismissed for 387, having added an extra 123 to their in a single day 264-7.
Northamptonshire had been behind the required fee within the chase, shedding three wickets within the course of earlier than Zaib got here out to affix Harrison and the tempo shifted in thrilling type.
Rain had delayed the beginning of play till 12:15 BST and Northamptonshire took the brand new ball as quickly because it was due after one over.
Harry Conway discovered early away motion, however Bracey leaned into three wonderful cowl drives off Liam Guthrie’s second over, the primary citing the 50 partnership off 94 balls with Ahmed as Gloucestershire’s lead stretched into three figures.
Ahmed finally fell lbw, enjoying throughout the road to a Conway inswinger, however Bracey introduced up his century after lunch earlier than Raphy Weatherall angled one into Matt Taylor that formed away and drew the sting via to the keeper.
It was James Gross sales who wrapped issues up when Will Williams nicked behind to the keeper as Bracey lastly ran out of companions.
Northamptonshire misplaced Procter early of their chase when he chopped on to a formidable Williams, however Ricardo Vasconcelos (33) quickly discovered the ropes, hooking Kristian Clarke for six.
When Vasconcelos pulled Matt Taylor with authority to take the rating to 50 within the twelfth over, Northamptonshire had been motoring, however subsequent ball he performed on to his stumps, making an attempt to withdraw his bat.
Bracey couldn’t keep out of the sport for lengthy and pulled off a surprising one-handed low catch when Nathan McSweeney (21) nicked Ahmed behind.
However Zaib smashed the paceman over mid-on, whereas Harrison pulled him for an additional boundary to succeed in his half-century with Northamptonshire going into the ultimate 10 overs needing 70.
In an important over costing 21, Harrison took on Clarke, hooking him for an unlimited six into the highest tier of the Turner Stand and adopted it up with one other into the Curo Lounge beneath, earlier than smashing two fours.
Zaib then lower Graeme van Buuren for 4 and drove in opposition to the spin for an additional earlier than Harrison swung Clarke for an additional large six legside with victory arriving shortly afterwards.
Report by ECB Reporters’ Community, supported by Rothesay.
