Barnett's century too much for Notts at start of Cheltenham Festival

Champions Gloucestershire showed they are not ready to give up on their Norwich Union League crown just yet as Nottinghamshire's title aspirations were dealt a blow with a 116-run defeat at Cheltenham.

Kim Barnett's 100 was the highlight of Gloucestershire's 286-6, which was their record score in the one-day league.

Then Nottinghamshire, whose skipper Darren Bicknell did not bat because of a twisted knee, saw their innings ended on 170-9 in the 39th over.

Leicestershire now look clear favourites for the championship, but Gloucestershire still maintain slender hopes after this victory broke a run of three successive one-day defeats.

Bicknell decided to put the home side in, but it soon backfired as Barnett and Dominic Hewson put on 124 for the opening wicket in 20 overs.

Hewson eventually holed out to deep square leg for 52, but Ian Harvey helped Barnett maintain the momentum with a partnership of 66 in 11 overs.

Harvey was in typically destructive mode as he struck six fours and two sixes in 46 before being caught in the deep.

There was no stopping Barnett, however, as he brought up the 16th limited overs century of his career from 111 balls, with nine fours.

A middle order collapse prevented Gloucestershire from reaching the 300 mark, but it didn't prove costly as Nottinghamshire's reply stumbled from the start.

James Averis accounted for Guy Welton and Paul Johnson and, when Greg Blewett and Kevin Pieterson departed in the space of four balls, there was no way back for the visitors from 86-4 in the 21st over.

Jeremy Snape finished as Gloucestershire's most successful bowler with 3-34, while there was two wickets for fellow spinner Martyn Ball.