Bancroft hits 87 as Gloucestershire overpower Middlesex

The former Australia Test batsman shared an opening partnership of 65 from 42 balls with Miles Hammond to set a platform for the visitors to post 8-179 at Chelmsford. 

Despite a valiant unbeaten 73 from 52 by Middlesex captain Leus du Plooy, his side lost six wickets for 39 and fell short on 169 for seven. 

Matt Taylor claimed 2-17 for Gloucestershire but they will miss out if Essex avoid defeat in their final match against Hampshire on Friday. 

Bancroft, who also plays for Western Australia and Big Bash side Sydney Thunder, was soon into his stride for Gloucestershire, ramping Tom Helm for six before crashing successive boundaries off Noah Cornwell. 

He and Hammond raced past 50 at the start of the sixth over before Luke Hollman made the breakthrough, the left-hander miscuing one to point. 

Bancroft advanced to his half-century in style from 31 balls, clubbing Hollman for back-to-back straight sixes, but wickets continued to fall until Ben Charlesworth joined him at 4-105. 

The pair added 46 from 29 before Blake Cullen had Charlesworth caught at point and Ryan Higgins struck twice in an over, with Bancroft holing out to long-on and Ollie Price run out. 

Higgins finished with 2-25 from his four overs and Gloucestershire ended fractionally short of a 180-plus total. 

Andersson enjoyed himself against Shaw, taking 14 from the first three balls of his over. 

Du Plooy brought up his half-century from 32 balls with a powerful straight six off Tom Smith - but Andersson narrowly missed out as Hammond caught him. 

Max Holden then miscued to backward point and Higgins was castled by a ball from Price before Jack Davies and Joe Cracknell were both caught in the deep. 

Despite some late blows from Josh de Caires and Helm, Payne closed the game out with figures of 1-26.

Australian Associated Press