Gloucestershire receive trophy despite disappointing final result

Champions Gloucestershire suffered a 27-run defeat to Northamptonshire on the Duckworth-Lewis system in their final National League match of the season.

Gloucestershire captain Mark Alleyne was presented with the trophy by sponsors Norwich Union after the finish of a low-scoring encounter.

It was the county's third one-day trophy of a record-breaking season and, despite the defeat, it did little to dampen the champagne celebrations at the end.

A 3,500 crowd helped create a buoyant atmosphere during the game and they must have thought a Gloucestershire victory was on the cards when the visitors, who had elected to bat, slumped to 32-5 in the 14th over.

Ian Harvey uprooted Jeff Cook's off stump with the first ball of the innings and the Australian all-rounder went on to record a career-best one-day return of 5-19.

He finished the campaign with 34 National League wickets, which was four more than the county record he set last season.

It needed some disciplined batting from Tony Penberthy (30), David Ripley (17) and Kevin Innes (32) to take Northants into three figures.

Even so, a score of 129 in a match reduced to 43 overs per side by a shower looked inadequate.

Gloucestershire were asked to score 129 rather than 130 to win under the Duckworth-Lewis rules, and set off briskly in pursuit of the runs.

The fifty came up in ten overs and a quick finish looked likely as Harvey blazed the ball to all areas.

He had smashed 43 from only 27 deliveries when he was bowled by Penberthy, a wicket which changed the game dramatically.

The runs dried up and Penberthy also accounted for Matt Windows, Alleyne, Chris Taylor and Martyn Ball in a spell of 5-29.

It was his best figures in a limited overs match, surpassing the 5-36 he took against Gloucestershire in a Sunday League match at Northampton seven years ago.

He was well supported by off-spinner Jason Brown, who claimed a return catch to remove James Averis in nine overs which only cost 12 runs.

Jack Russell stood defiant for Gloucestershire with an unbeaten 17, but the end came when Innes had Mike Smith caught at slip by Northants skipper Matthew Hayden.

It was appropriate that Hayden should hold the final catch of Northants's season, for the Australian won't be back with them next year because he is expected to be part of his country's Ashes squad.

Harvey should be back with Gloucestershire, however. He will probably be part of Australia's squad for the triangular one-day series, but that won't preclude Gloucestershire from re-signing him. They have already offered him a new two-year deal.