Guthrie leads the way as Northants close in on back-to-back wins over Gloucestershire

The left-arm seamer, who contributed a career-best 52 with the bat earlier in the match, took four for 50 to dismiss the visitors for 268 in their first innings and added another three wickets after Northants enforced the follow-on.

Gloucestershire captain Cameron Bancroft led his side’s resistance with 64 before James Bracey’s second half-century of the contest, an undefeated 75, ensured that the home side would have to bat again.

Gloucestershire battled their way to 264 for seven at the close, which is a lead of 67, but will need something special on the final day to stave off a sixth defeat in seven games.

With 83 needed to avoid the follow-on at start of play, Gloucestershire’s prospects were not helped when Graeme van Buuren – having added just a single to his overnight 75 – swung at Saif Zaib’s wayward full toss and top-edged to backward square.

The other not-out batter Jack Taylor followed suit in Zaib’s next over, holing out to mid-on and, having initially spurned the option of the second new ball, Northants’ change of heart four overs later paid dividends.

Guthrie’s first delivery of the day dug back to hit Daz Ahmed on the pads – albeit perhaps fractionally too high – and the left-armer followed it up with an inswinger that sent Matt Taylor’s off stump flying.

Kristian Clarke, who had looked accomplished for his 21, then walked across to the next ball from Harry Conway and Gloucestershire’s openers were immediately invited to strap their pads on again.

Bancroft and Joe Phillips gave their side a brisk start second time around, advancing at four an over as the skipper thrashed Raphy Weatherall over cover for six and then flicked a leg-side four to raise the team’s 50 prior to lunch.

Bancroft’s personal half-century duly arrived in the afternoon session, but by then Phillips had gone, caught behind fishing outside off stump and Ricardo Vasconcelos took another one low down to remove Tommy Boorman.

Luke Procter delivered a challenging spell from the David Capel End, beating the bat and he was unlucky not to claim the wicket of Miles Hammond, whose sharp edge just eluded George Bartlett at third slip.

However, when Procter made way for Guthrie, the left-armer’s second delivery squared Hammond up and the ball popped into the hands of Bartlett – who had just been switched to gully.

It was Guthrie who finally prised out Bancroft, steering to second slip and another inspired change brought Northamptonshire’s fifth success as Van Buuren chopped James Sales’ first ball onto his stumps.

Bracey remained defiant, absorbing pressure and timing his shots nicely as he leg-glanced Conway for four and then drove him for another boundary to post his second half-century in as many days.

He lost Jack Taylor, who became Guthrie’s third victim of the innings with a pull to deep midwicket, but Clarke contributed a valuable 22, steering Sales to the rope at third man to take Gloucestershire into positive territory.

Sales was close to removing Bracey, finding the edge only for Vasconcelos to fumble the chance as he dived in front of slip and Ahmed helped to delay Northamptonshire’s progress, slamming Calvin Harrison for six to reach stumps on 28.

Reaction

Northants batting coach Greg Smith: “The first bit of the day was unbelievable and it was then up to the bowlers whether they had the energy to keep going. Because we bowled so well in the morning and tails were up, I think it was the right decision (enforcing the follow-on).

“It just makes a shorter chase more in our favour if it comes down to that the back end of tomorrow. We discussed it with Proccy (Luke Procter) and the bowlers were really up for it – I felt the character they showed on a really flat surface was tremendous.

“I thought the bowlers stuck at their discipline. They only went for around three and a bit and if you do that, it means you’re building pressure and eventually chances are going to happen.

“James Bracey has played very well. We’ve got one over left until the new ball, so hopefully in the morning we can have a repeat of what happened on Sunday.

“Guthers (Liam Guthrie) has stood out brilliantly, he’s swung the ball at times and he always gets wickets when you really need them and Salesy has been amazing all year. Everyone’s standing up when we need them to but we need to come out tomorrow and finish the job.”

Gloucestershire bowler Daz Ahmed: “We’re still fighting. There were a couple of really good partnerships and we’re still in the game, there’s a lot of time left and we really believe we can still put ourselves in a position to have a go at the back end.

“He (James Bracey) is batting really well at the minute. I’ve always seen myself as a capable batter and we’ve still got two guys who are more than capable as well, so between us we believe we can get a score on the board we can have a crack at on Monday.

“There’s a little bit in the pitch with the new ball, a bit of nip and swing but it tends to get easier as the ball gets softer. So I think the main threat is going to be with the new ball – it’ll be a challenge for us in the morning but, if we can weather that storm, hopefully we can have a good crack.”

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