A Matt Finish

Set a victory target of 235 on a difficult pitch, Gloucestershire made light work of the task and won by three wickets with eight balls to spare.

Windows, who led the way with his 91-ball innings including eight fours and a six, and Chris Taylor shared a third-wicket partnership of 100 in 18 overs to lay the foundations for the victory.

And although Leicestershire struck back with a flurry of wickets in the later overs skipper Mark Alleyne and James Averis steered the Gladiators home.

Leicestershire totalled 234 for six after winning the toss with Australian Brad Hodge scoring his first limited-overs half century for them. He made 63 off 96 balls before being bowled off an inside edge by Ian Butler.

The next highest contribution for the Foxes came from the extras column which totalled 46 including 14 wides and two no-balls.

But former Gloucestershire man Jeremy Snape put together a beautifully crafted innings down the order when it looked as though the home side might struggle to reach the 200 mark.

Snape made an unbeaten 39 off 32 balls, finding the gaps in the field and timing his shots perfectly.

Phil DeFreitas gave him good support in a vital seventh-wicket stand and with 40 runs coming off the last five overs the Foxes posted a competitive total.

New Zealander Craig Spearman then hit a typically dashing 34 off 34 balls before Windows and Taylor joined forces to provide the platform for the Gladiators' second win of the season - both of them at Leicestershire's expense.

National Cricket League Division One: Grace Road, Leicestershire Foxes 234-6 Innings Complete (B J Hodge 63) v Gloucestershire Gladiators 235-7 (M G N Windows 76) Gloucestershire beat Leicestershire by 3 wkts; National Cricket League Division Two: The Grange, Scottish Saltires 201-8 Innings Complete (J C Kent 57) v Hampshire Hawks 202-4 (R A Smith 82 no, D A Kenway 51) Hampshire beat Scotland by 6 wkts;