Boje picked up three Gloucestershire wickets in a losing cause

Northants skipper Nicky Boje has insisted his team's batting must improve if they are to reach the Twenty20 Cup quarter-finals.

The Steelbacks lost to Gloucestershire by two wickets on Tuesday - their second straight defeat after winning five in a row.

"The batting didn't go as planned," Boje told BBC Radio Northampton.

"We fielded and bowled very well but it's difficult to defend a score of 133 on a good wicket."

"Unfortunately we lost wickets at crucial stages of the game and that cost us probably 30 or 40 runs.

"In this shortened form of the game, if you're not up to par in all three departments - batting, bowling and fielding - you will struggle."

Northants are now level on points with Somerset and Warwickshire at the top of the Midlands, Wales and West Division, and will take on Somerset at Taunton in a vital match on Thursday.

"All our three remaining games are crucial now," said Boje.

"We need to work on our batting and make sure the guys take some responsibility."

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