One-Day Cup: David Willey stars as Northants beat Gloucestershire
- Published
Royal London One-Day Cup, Cheltenham |
Northants 242-6 (42.1 overs) beat Gloucestershire 240-9 (50 overs) by four wickets |
David Willey took four wickets and hit the winning runs as Northants began their One-Day Cup campaign with a four-wicket win over Gloucestershire.
Only captain Michael Klinger (98) made a significant contribution for the hosts as Willey's one-day best figures of 4-33 limited them to 240-9.
Adam Rossington, on loan from Middlesex, then hit 12 fours in a one-day best 82 to put Northants on top.
And Willey (26no) hit the winning boundary with 7.5 overs to spare.
But it was Rossington's innings that laid the foundation for Northants' run chase, sharing stands of 85 in 13 overs with Richard Levi and 69 with Matthew Spriegel.
Klinger had earlier held the Gloucestershire innings together with his 131-ball knock but their total was below par on a ground with short boundaries square of the wicket.
Willey's first wicket came in the eighth over when Alex Gidman played across the line to be bowled.
He then returned to spark a collapse of four wickets for 10 runs in 13 balls when he had Will Gidman caught at cover to end a partnership of 73 with Klinger, before winning lbw shouts against Adam Rouse and Tom Smith.
Gloucestershire captain Michael Klinger:
"Northants had the better of the first 10 overs in each innings and that made a difference. Rossington and Levi gave them momentum when they batted, and we needed one of the top three to do the same and it didn't quite happen for us.
"I thought 270 would have been a par score, and if we had got to 280 or 290 then that would have put them under real pressure."
Northants head coach David Ripley:
"The ball held up a little bit at times, but it's a fast-scoring ground and we were pleased to keep Gloucestershire to 240.
"Adam Rossington batted really well for us. He's a lad I've known about since he was 16 and he has a lot of talent. It wasn't quite happening for him at Middlesex this season, but he's done well for us and we're delighted to have him for at least another month."
- Published15 May 2018