CRICKET: Foxes' bowling attack too strong for Gloucestershire as they win in three days

Gloucestershire 183 (Jack Taylor 51; Ben Raine 4-57) & 215 (Michael Klinger 54; Clint McKay 3-43, Ben Raine 3-54)

Leicestershire 218 (Angus Robson 62; David Payne 5-36) & 181-4 (Horton 73*, Cosgrove 56)

Glos 3pts, Leics 20pts

Leicestershire won by 6 wkts

HALF centuries from Paul Horton and Mark Cosgrove helped Leicestershire to a six-wicket victory on the penultimate day of their Specsavers' County Championship game against Gloucestershire at Cheltenham College.

It was Gloucestershire's first defeat of the 2016 Cheltenham Festival.

Set 181 to win, the Foxes recovered from 16-2, shortly after lunch, to seal victory with a day to spare.

Mark Cosgrove hit an impressive 54 and Paul Horton, an unbeaten 73.

Gloucestershire coach Richard Dawson said; "We were behind on first innings and that was the difference. We talked about the importance of not being in that position, but once we were it was always going to be difficult to control the game.

"I think the bottom line is that we didn't bat well enough and we paid the price for that.

"Leicestershire are a good side and have a very good bowling attack, but we didn't apply ourselves well enough.

"They put us under pressure today and when we lost two wickets in one over, we were always going to struggle."

Gloucestershire, resuming their second innings on their overnight total of 133-4 but they collapsed to 215 all out with veteran Aussie bowler taking three wickets in nine balls.

Although Michael Klinger reached 50 off 101 balls, with seven fours, he became the fifth Gloucestershire wicket to fall when caught behind off the bowling of Ben Raine for 54 at 155-5.

Jack Taylor departed off the final ball of the same Raine over and when Craig Miles and David Payne followed, in quick succession, Gloucestershire were 161-8.

Liam Norwell was bowled by McKay for three before Benny Howell (20 not out) and Shaw, who hit a career best 29, gave Gloucestershire fresh hope with 48 for the final wicket.

Leicestershire were chasing a modest 181 for victory, but mindful that Gloucestershire had bowled out leaders Essex for 151 on the final day of last week's Championship game at the picturesque college ground.

They lost Angus Robson before lunch and Neil Dexter shortly after.

However, Cosgrove and Horton batted with great patience to add 108 off 184 balls for the third wicket.

Cosgrove eventually chipped a catch to Will Tavare at mid wicket, off the bowling of Graeme van Buuren, at 124-3.

Horton posted 50 off 113 balls and continued in the same sensible vein as Gloucestershire toiled in the late afternoon sunshine.

Graeme Van Buuren finally snared his man, lbw for 73, at 163-4.

Unfortunately for Gloucestershire, it was too little too late and Mark Pettini and Niall O'Brien finally put Gloucestershire out of their misery, with more than 15 overs of the day remaining.