Ealham scripts Notts victory

Mark Ealham's efforts with the ball helped Notts to a narrow win over Gloucs

Mark Ealham bowled NatWest Pro40 Division One leaders Nottinghamshire to a nine-run victory over Gloucestershire under the Duckworth-Lewis method at Cheltenham.

Samit Patel top-scored with 65 in Nottinghamshire's 208 for eight, while Will Rudge returned his best one-day figures of 4-57 for Gloucestershire.

The home side reached 92 for four from 19 overs before rain ended the game and it was Ealham's 3-10 from four overs which was chiefly responsible for putting Gloucestershire behind the Duckworth-Lewis target.

Kadeer Ali and Hamish Marshall got the Gloucestershire chase off to a good start with a partnership of 47 in seven overs before Kadeer, on 30, skied a delivery from Andre Adams to wicketkeeper Chris Read.

But it was Ealham's introduction to the attack at the Chapel End which really swung the game Nottinghamshire's way and set them up for a third win in three matches.

The veteran all rounder had Marshall and Alex Gidman both lbw in the space of three balls in his second over.

Then, with rain falling, Ealham struck again in his fourth over when Steve Snell was caught by Graeme Swann at short extra cover.

Umpires Peter Hartley and Martin Bodenham took the players off at the end of the following over and abandoned hopes of a resumption about an hour later.

Earlier, after Nottinghamshire's captain Read won the toss, the Outlaws had been reduced to 60 for four in the 13th over.

The first two wickets were taken by Rudge, who was playing his first game since being told he would be released by Gloucestershire at the end of the summer.

Swann was the first to go when he skied a drive to Kadeer at long-off, and then Matt Wood was caught behind as he tried to avoid a short-pitched ball.

Mark Wagh had moved confidently to 28 when he fell victim to an outstanding catch by Steve Kirby, who dived full length to his left at short fine leg to give Mark Hardinges the first of his two wickets.

Rudge, having switched ends, struck again when Adam Voges was caught behind.

Patel and Bilal Shafayat revived the innings of a partnership of 62 in 14 overs before Shafayat, on 28, fell to a superb one handed catch by Gidman at mid-off from Marshall's bowling.

Patel's fine innings ended in the 35th over when he skied a delivery from Hardinges to Marshall at long-off.

Then, after 15 runs had been taken off Rudge's penultimate over, the Outlaws lost two more wickets when Ealham was yorked by Kirby and Read hold out to Marshall at long-off to give Rudge his fourth victim.