Victory under lights at Bristol keeps Gloucestershire in contention for division one title

One-day kings Gloucestershire put themselves in contention for the National League first division title with a 47-run success over Leicestershire under the Bristol floodlights.

After their double in the Benson and Hedges Cup and NatWest Trophy, Gloucestershire are now third in the National League with three games remaining.

Mark Alleyne's men stand two points behind leaders Yorkshire with a game in hand and will fancy their chances of securing a clean sweep of the domestic one-day competitions.

Australian all-rounder Ian Harvey was the inspiration behind the win over Leicestershire as he struck a blistering 66 with the bat and then claimed 4-26 with the ball.

Harvey, who has been troubled by a bruised hip, had intended to sit out this game. But he was talked into playing and Leicestershire must have been cursing that decision.

After the early loss of Kim Barnett, Harvey joined Tim Hancock at the crease and immediately laid on a feast of attacking shots for the 3,000 crowd and the Sky TV cameras.

He raced to his half-century from 27 balls, one of the quickest in the competition's history. He had struck 12 fours in his 35-ball innings when he was misjudged a googly from leg-spinner Anil Kumble and was caught at mid-off by Aftab Habib.

That left Gloucestershire on 92-2 in just the 12th over and with the base for an imposing total.

Jeremy Snape and Matt Windows capitalised to excellent effect with a stand of 130 in 23 overs before Snape was caught by Kumble at midwicket off Vince Wells for 71.

Windows departed soon afterwards for 61, but even the fall of four wickets in the final two overs was little consolation for Leicestershire.

Gloucestershire's total of 269-9 always looked too much, especially when the visitors struggled to 27-3 against some typically nagging new-ball bowling from Mike Smith and Harvey.

Ben Smith and Darren Maddy did their best to keep Leicestershire interested in their run chase with a partnership of 138 in 22 overs for the fourth wicket.

But once Smith was caught by Martyn Ball at deep midwicket for 77, the rest of the batting folded quickly.

Maddy was bowled by Harvey for 86 and the Australian also took the wickets of Habib, Jon Dakin and Kumble.

Dakin, in particular, will be grateful that his side do not face Harvey and Gloucestershire again this season. He was hammered for 19 in one over by Harvey, including four boundaries.

Relegation-threatened Leicestershire were bowled out for 222 off the final ball of their innings and now face a crucial day-night match against Somerset at Taunton on Wednesday.