Joe Eckland played a composed and confident innings of 68 not out to guide Gloucestershire to a thrilling three-wicket win over Northamptonshire Steelbacks in a tense Metro Bank One Day Cup match at Cheltenham.
Chasing a challenging target of 309 runs, Gloucestershire were well positioned thanks to strong contributions from Cameron Bancroft and James Bracey, who scored 68 and 56 respectively. With the match finely poised, Eckland then forged a crucial partnership of 70 runs with Daz Ahmed, who made 48 off 38 balls. Their calm and focused batting saw Gloucestershire secure victory with just four balls remaining, as Eckland later partnered Aman Rao to close out the chase.
Earlier in the innings, Northamptonshire’s Nathan McSweeney and George Bartlett laid the foundation for a competitive total, scoring 79 and 75 respectively. The Steelbacks posted 308 runs in 46.3 overs, with Ahmed impressing by taking career-best List A bowling figures of 4 for 56.
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Reflecting on the match, all-rounder Daz Ahmed said: “This was an absolutely brilliant win. For us to play two matches and win both at a packed Cheltenham, finishing the competition on such a high, is very satisfying.
“I wasn’t at my best with the ball today but was pleased to take two early wickets. Coming back later to tidy things up was very pleasing. Nathan McSweeney and George Bartlett batted with intent, putting us under pressure, but we managed to get them out at the right moments and finished strongly in the last 10 overs. We could have been chasing 360, so we were relieved at halfway.
“During the chase, while Joe and I were batting together, things felt well under control. I was frustrated not to be there at the end, but Joe held his nerve superbly and played a great innings to get us over the line.”
McSweeney and Miller put on 73 runs in 13 overs to provide a solid start for the Steelbacks. Bartlett then joined McSweeney in a productive fourth-wicket partnership, both registering their sixth half-centuries of the One Day Cup campaign.
McSweeney reached his 50 off 43 balls, including nine fours, while the pair added 50 runs in just six overs, gaining the upper hand for Northamptonshire. Ahmed broke the partnership by taking the key wicket of McSweeney, who was caught leg before wicket.
Bartlett responded with a quickfire 50 from 39 balls, striking 12 fours and two sixes before he was dismissed attempting an aggressive shot. At 238 for six in the 36th over, the innings was delicately balanced.
Needing to improve their net run rate to keep knockout hopes alive, the Steelbacks adopted an aggressive approach. Despite some wickets falling, Dom Leech and Liam Guthrie contributed valuable runs to ensure Northamptonshire passed the 300-run mark.
Gloucestershire’s openers, Bracey and Bancroft, started the chase positively, compiling a 99-run partnership in 14 overs with 17 boundaries between them. Bracey reached a quickfire 50 from 37 balls before being dismissed.
Bancroft continued to build the innings, reaching his half-century off 58 balls, supported by an important 43-run stand with Will Voce. However, the Steelbacks fought back as Procter took two wickets in quick succession, including Bancroft and Voce, while Joe Phillips was run out, bringing the score to 180 for four in the 31st over.
It was then left to Ahmed and Eckland to stabilise the innings. After hitting five fours and two sixes, Ahmed was caught at deep backward square off Leech. Northants briefly regained momentum when Leech had Tom Middleton out lbw, but Eckland’s resolute 50 off 66 balls, combined with a steady effort from Aman Rao, ensured a dramatic and satisfying finish for Gloucestershire, much to the delight of the packed Cheltenham crowd.