Record-breaking Barnett takes Gloucestershire Gladiators to victory

Veteran Kim Barnett created history by becoming the leading run-scorer in the one-day league as Gloucestershire Gladiators saw off Northamptonshire Steelbacks by 20 runs under the Duckworth/Lewis method at Wantage Road.

The 40-year-old, who made his debut in the competition for Derbyshire against Essex way back in May 1979, hit 101 from 124 balls to boost the reigning champions to 222-5 in their 45 overs.

And the stroke that gave Barnett his hundred - in the penultimate over of the innings - also carried him past Graham Gooch's previous record aggregate of 8,573 runs.

Northamptonshire were behind the rate on 108-3 from 31 overs when a heavy thunderstorm broke over the ground, bringing proceedings to a premature and spectacular end.

Barnett and Rob Cunliffe (23) laid a 65-run foundation for the Gladiators, with Matt Windows (34) and skipper Mark Alleyne (21) contributing usefully.

But the real acceleration came in the last five overs, which yielded 58. Chris Taylor played a vital cameo, smashing an unbeaten 22 from only 11 balls with four boundaries.

Northants' reply was built around in-form Australian Mike Hussey with a busy 53 from 89 deliveries, but the Steelbacks slipped behind after the loss of Mal Loye and Jeff Cook in successive overs to Martyn Ball and Jeremy Snape respectively.

Hussey then went too, stumped off Ian Harvey, and moments later the rain began to fall, securing the Gladiators' victory.