Gloucestershire completed a tense three-wicket win over Northamptonshire in the Metro Bank One Day Cup at Cheltenham, reaching 309 for seven in 49.2 overs while chasing 309.
Northamptonshire were bowled out for 308 in 46.4 overs after Gloucestershire chose to field first. Nathan McSweeney and George Bartlett led the scoring with 79 and 75 respectively. Gus Miller added 37, while Dominic Leech struck 35 from 26 balls late in the innings. Liam Guthrie contributed 20 from 15 balls, and Stuart van der Merwe made 13.
McSweeney and Bartlett built a strong partnership after Northamptonshire had lost early wickets. McSweeney reached his half-century from 43 balls and eventually made 79 from 63 deliveries, hitting 12 fours and one six. Bartlett also passed fifty, reaching the mark from 39 balls before finishing with 75 from 63 balls, including nine fours and two sixes.
Leech provided another attacking contribution near the end of the innings, scoring 35 from 26 balls with four fours and two sixes. Northamptonshire lost their final wicket at 308 in the 47th over.
Daaryoush Ahmed was Gloucestershire's leading bowler with four wickets for 56 runs from 10 overs. Ollie Price claimed two wickets, while Edward Middleton also took two. Marchant de Lange and Aman Rao picked up one wicket each.
Gloucestershire made a strong start in the chase. James Bracey scored 56 from 40 balls, hitting eight fours and two sixes, while Cameron Bancroft made 68 from 72 deliveries with 11 fours. Their opening stand helped Gloucestershire reach 99 before Bracey was dismissed.
Ollie Price then made 19, but Joseph Eckland took control of the chase with a composed unbeaten 68. He faced 74 balls and hit seven fours and two sixes.
Daaryoush Ahmed added valuable support with 48 from 38 balls, including five fours and two sixes. Eckland and Ahmed put together a crucial partnership that took Gloucestershire towards the target before Ahmed was dismissed at 270.
Edward Middleton fell without scoring, leaving Gloucestershire needing further runs with the lower order exposed. Aman Rao then joined Eckland and contributed an unbeaten 16 from 14 balls.
Gloucestershire reached 300 in the 49th over and completed the chase at 309 for seven after 49.2 overs. Eckland remained unbeaten at the finish, guiding his side to a three-wicket victory with four balls remaining.
The result gave Gloucestershire a memorable win after Northamptonshire had posted a challenging total of 308.