Three wickets in six balls from Jon Lewis led Gloucestershire Gladiators to an 18-run victory over Lancashire Lightning in National League Division One at Old Trafford.

A late onslaught by Dominic Cork had got the requirement down to 33 from five overs thanks to useful partnerships with Warren Hegg (36) and Steven Crook (13).

But then came the turn of Rocky, as the pace bowler is known to his Gloucestershire teammates.

Swindonian Lewis bowled Crook, John Wood and finally Cork (37) to inflict an eighth defeat in 10 games on the home side, and a fourth in four games in the totesport National League.

The victory eases the Gladiators position slightly although they remain in the bottom three after only their second victory in this competition.

Defending a target of 240, the visitors bowled tightly and fielded sharply, creating pressure for the Lancashire batsmen.

They had struggled early on losing Iain Sutcliffe (7) lbw to Mike Smith and Stuart Law (7) was caught behind playing an ugly heave to leave them 43-2.

But Mal Loye and Dinesh Mongia combined in a promising stand of 55 for the third wicket before Mark Alleyne struck twice in two balls. He had Mongia (40) caught behind and then trapped Mark Chilton plumb lbw.

Loye reached his half-century from 55 balls but when he was well caught at long-off from the bowling of Ian Fisher it left the lower order with two much to do against the experienced Gloucestershire attack.

The Gladiators had looked on course for a bigger total after Craig Spearman had got their innings off to a flyer.

He took two sixes off John Wood in the eighth over and reached his half-century from just 32 balls, the third time past 50 this season.

It did not matter whether it was seam or spin bowling at him everyone was being treated with equal disdain. Dinesh Mongia was taken for 20 in an over with two fours and two sixes.

But when he fell in the 22nd over, caught at long on off Mongia, Gloucestershire lost their way against some tight bowling from Gary Keedy.

From 129-2 they added only 58 in the next 18 overs.

Keedy conceded just 31 runs from his nine overs and Mark Chilton produced a useful spell of medium pace.

It took a well-paced innings from Tim Hancock (53 not out) to ensure their good platform was not wasted.

He reached is half-century from 53 balls and spoilt Chilton's figures when he took consecutive sixes off him in the penultimate over as 50 runs were added in the last five overs.