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Northamptonshire 465 and 191 for 3 (Harrison 92) beat Gloucestershire 268 (van Buuren 76, Guthrie 4-50) and 387 (Bracey 148, Bancroft 64, Sales 3-57, Guthrie 3-89) by seven wickets
Calvin Harrison’s 92 off 100 balls steered Northamptonshire to a decisive seven‑wicket victory over Gloucestershire at the cinch County Ground, Wantage Road, on the final evening of the Rothesay County Championship match.
Harrison struck three powerful sixes and seven fours, and was joined by Saif Zaib (34 not out) in a fourth‑wicket partnership of 101 runs off just 72 deliveries. The hosts chased a white‑ball style target of 191, completing the run‑chase in 36 overs with 13 balls to spare.
Earlier, James Bracey had announced himself with an unbeaten 148, his second century of the season and the team’s third three‑figure score that summer. Bracey’s innings followed a 72 in the first innings, and his cumulative runs kept Gloucestershire in contention.
Despite appearing in control after the follow‑on, Gloucestershire were dismissed for 387, having added another 123 runs on the second day. Rain delayed the start of play until 12:15 pm, giving Northamptonshire the new ball early after one over.
Harry Conway saw Gloucestershire onto a 50‑run partnership in 94 balls, as Bracey played elegant cover drives off Liam Guthrie’s second over. Raphy Weatherall’s effort to break the partnership in the stand of 36 with Matt Taylor was thwarted by a sharp edge to the keeper.
Bracey’s persistence paid off; he stroked Weatherall through the covers and sent three successive cover boundaries to the second over of James Sales’ bowling, easing Gloucestershire past 350. Sales eventually finished with figures of 3 for 57, while Guthrie took 3 for 89.
In the chase, Northamptonshire lost Procter early, but Ricardo Vasconcelos (33) was quick to hit a six over the keeper. New batters Harrison and Zaib kept up the tempo, with Harrison smashing a thunderous six over the keeper and another into the Curo Lounge. The steady partnership, bolstered by Zaib’s contribution, carried Northamptonshire to victory with 13 balls to spare.