Northants made it three straight Twenty20 wins with a comfortable 27-run victory at Gloucestershire.

Rikki Wessels top scored for the Steelbacks with 43 off 23 balls as the visitors posted a respectable 162-5.

The hosts never really threatened to reach their target despite steady contributions from Marcus North (36) and Hamish Marshall (25).

Johann Law and Andrew Hall did the damage with the ball as they claimed three wickets each for Northants.

The match started promisingly enough for Gloucestershire as Steve Kirby, on his return from injury, claimed the wicket of Niall O'Brien for just one in the third over.

However, opener Rob White hit five fours and five sixes on his way to 39 before the introduction of Sales and Wessels helped push Northants's total along, Wessels crowning his innings with a six off the final ball.

Northants soon took control as they reduced their hosts to 44-4, but North and Mark Hardinges provided some relief as they added 46.

But Hardinges soon fell to Lance Klusener for 19 and any hope vanished when North was also dismissed by the South African, who ended with figures of 2-18.