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Law-breakers' pay-off

Gloucestershire (224-9) bt Essex (204) by 20 runs

The margin of Gloucestershire's victory and the fact that 13 balls went spare rather conceals the excitement and fluctuating fortunes that prevailed until the 32nd over when Danny Law, who scored a raucous, if charmed 40, off 35 balls, was brought to book. His dismissal ended a 46-run partnership with Paul Grayson.

Law, who hit two fours and two sixes, was twice dropped in the same over from Kim Barnett at cover. It was ironic that in the very next over, from Mark Alleyne, Barnett himself brought off a spectacular catch to end Law's menace and put Essex hopes into decline.

Essex owed their early prosperity to Darren Robinson (47) and Stuart Law, who hit four fours and a six in his 35.

Despite an economical opening spell by Mark Ilott - seven overs for 15 runs - Gloucestershire, who had opted to bat first, were not short of early momentum. But starting with Ashley Cowan yorking Bobby Dawson, three wickets fell while the score moved from 37 to 53.

But two successive partnerships, each of 55, revived Gloucestershire. The recovery was initiated by Mark Alleyne (59) and Ian Harvey and then Jack Russell weighed in with an unbeaten 59 off 51 balls.