COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO, Bristol
FINAL DAY: Gloucestershire 393 and 72-0 beat Leicestershire 133 and 331 by 10 wickets(Glos 21pts, Leics 2pts)
6-9 May 2009 (Play starts 1100 BST)

Anthony Ireland took eight wickets in the match for the rejuvenated Glosters

Gloucestershire recorded their first Championship win at Nevil Road since May 2006 as they beat Leicestershire by 10 wickets to go top of Division Two.

The visitors extended their second-innings total from an overnight 243-6 to 331 all out, Carl Crowe making an unbeaten 41, while Jon Lewis took 4-39.

It left Gloucestershire needing only 72 to win and they reached their final-day target within an hour after lunch.
Openers Kadeer Ali (38 no) and Will Porterfield (32no) saw them home.

The 21 points gained gave John Bracewell's side 53 from their first four Championship games - a remarkable effort considering they failed to win a single match in the competition last season.

Even in 2007, Gloucestershire's only home win came at Gloucester. And they had not won in four-day cricket at their county headquarters since beating Northants on 12 May 2006, 17 home Championship games ago.

The return of Bracewell as director of cricket has clearly had a galvanising effect on the team, who have also kicked off their Friends Provident Trophy campaign with three wins.

They were made to fight by the Leicestershire tail. Crowe hit three fours in facing 79 balls and received particularly good support from Iain O'Brien, who made 31 batting at 10.

But Anthony Ireland delivery removed both to earn him match figures of 8-109.

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