Northamptonshire second after Bristol win, Lancashire held by Worcestershire

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO ROUNDUP: Louis Kimber held his nerve to lead Northants to a narrow two-wicket win at Bristol

ECB Reporters Network | 18/05/2026 at 16:57

Bristol (day four of four): Gloucestershire 154 & 221, Northamptonshire 127 & 251-8 - Northamptonshire won by two wickets

Louis Kimber posted a brave half-century to deliver a hard-earned two-wicket victory for Northamptonshire on the final day of an enthralling County Championship Division Two match against Gloucestershire at Bristol.

Drafted in as an injury replacement for Saif Zaid at the halfway stage of the game, the 29-year-old batter arrived in the middle with 95 runs still needed and four wickets in hand as a see-saw contest moved towards a thrilling finale.

Holding his nerve under pressure, Kimber struck 11 fours and a six in a no-nonsense innings of 66 from 69 balls, which carried his side to within touching distance of victory.

Australian Test star Nathan McSweeney posted a valuable 46, and Lewis McManus compiled 22 not out to guide the visitors to their target of 249 after Will Williams had produced an incisive spell of 2 for 5 from 6.2 overs with four maidens to keep alive Gloucestershire's hopes of forcing only their second win of the season.

Their promotion hopes very much alive, Northamptonshire collected 19 points, while bottom-of-the-table Gloucestershire claimed three after suffering their sixth defeat in seven red ball games this season.

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^{James Anderson was among the wickets against (Getty Images)}

Southport (day four of four): Worcestershire 270 & 211-5d, Lancashire 281-8d - match drawn

Worcestershire skipper Brett D'Oliveira and all-rounder Matthew Waite shared an unbroken stand of 97 to ensure their side drew their County Championship match against Lancashire.

The pair came together with the visitors on 114 for 5 in the second innings, giving them a lead of 103 in mid-afternoon, when there were still 44 overs in the game.

But they defied an attack led by James Anderson, whose figures of 2 for 27 from 15 overs did him no sort of justice, and the draw was certain long before the players shook hands with Worcestershire on 211 for five, with D'Oliveira on 46 not out and Waite unbeaten on 47.

Lancashire earned 12 points from the game, whereas Worcestershire took 11.

^{Lead image: Jacob Hurry/Gloucestershire Cricket}