Mark: We would have given it a go in the last 20 overs or so

RAIN put paid to the prospect of an exciting finish at Wantage Road as Northamptonshire and Gloucestershire were eventually forced to settle for a draw in the Rothesay County Championship.

- By BEN KOSKY

The contest had been nicely poised when the weather intervened on Monday, edging in favour of the home side with Gloucestershire on 214-6, needing another 136 from a minimum of 24.2 overs.

Northamptonshire had set their opponents a target of 350 after rattling up another 101 from the first 12 overs of the day to declare on 259-6, built around bristling knocks of 70 and 58, respectively, from James Sales and Saif Zaib.

Miles Hammond threatened to spearhead a successful Gloucestershire charge with his innings of 80, while Cameron Bancroft also posted his second half-century of the game before the home side fought back.