All-rounder Liam Guthrie produced an energy-sapping effort that placed Northamptonshire well in control of this 25th match of the Rothesay County Championship Division Two against Gloucestershire, where they’ll now need to pull off something special just to make it six defeats in seven.
The left-arm seamer had already made his mark with the bat, but it was with the ball that he was the catalyst for Northants in bowling out Gloucestershire for 268 in their first innings, courtesy of 4 for 50. Earlier in the match, Guthrie scored a career-high score of 52 as Northamptonshire amassed an impressive total of 465, with Saif Zaib (142) and Emilio McSweeney (117) putting together the foundations for that massive first-innings score.
The Steelbacks were quick to enforce the follow-on with a lead of 197 and Guthrie answered his early-season call once more. When Northamptonshire enforced the follow-on he made things worse, taking three more wickets for match figures of seven.
This was not a lot of graceful strokeplay from Gloucestershire in their second innings but much more a grim, dogged fight. Raphy Weatherall continued to apply the pressure early on, with a delivery which nipped back and kept down seeing him trap Cameron Bancroft lbw. That was all the more impressive given the manner of opening batsmen Guthrie who picked up further scalps as beleaguered guests came under pressure through much of the afternoon.
But Gloucestershire’s captain had more magic to conjure. The head of that resistance was the fighting 64 of Bancroft, finally dismissed to give those behind him below a launching pad from which to extend their innings. The Steelbacks’ bowlers continued to hold an iron grip on run-scoring but Van Buuren and Bracey set about rebuilding with a partnership of 62 in 113 balls before tea.
Yet the largest thorn in Northamptonshire’s side proved to be James Bracey. The wicketkeeper-batter, however, dug in with his usual determination and scored yet another half-century of the series- oh wait, it was his second. Bracey’s unbeaten 75 ensured the home side would have to bat again and left Northants missing out in their quest for a four-day clean sweep in this game on day three.
At the close Gloucestershire had reached 264 for 7, still 67 runs shy of Northamptonshire’s first-innings score. As they step out onto the fourth and final day, the visitors still have that mammoth task ahead of them with just three wickets left in their second innings and still a long way off what they need to make up the gap.
Despite Northamptonshire, confidence was muted as stumps were drawn. Victory would also be a successful defence of their Division Two title against Gloucestershire – the last team they beat in the same Championship season which go towards elevating them up that division. From just this contest, the points total currently reads Northamptonshire 7, Gloucestershire 3, quite simply rated to show how dominant the Steelbacks have been over four days of cricket.
But the longest-lasting story from the 2023 MLB playoffs will be the one that is basically about Guthrie. A career high with the bat, seven wickets in the match and unremittingly threatening with the ball throughout the follow-on- overs in this season has seen him establish himself as one of Division Two cricket’s genuine all-round performers. Guthrie’s name, then, would likely be the most prominent in any match report if Northants are to pull off what appears an inevitable victory on day four.
For Gloucestershire 9 wickets (117 balls remaining) – Victory by an improbable last wicket partnership reaching a miraculous landmark that keeps their innings going far enough to annoy the hosts. But if this is evidence of three days then it will take something close to extraordinary for Northamptonshire not to enjoy their moment.
