Lancashire were beaten by bottom-placed Gloucestershire by 105 runs at Old Trafford, leaving the two sides separated by just 18 points with two matches remaining in Division Two of the County Championship.
The defeat leaves Lancashire seventh in Division Two with 100 points from 12 matches, while Gloucestershire moved to 82 after claiming their second successive win. With 18 points now separating the teams, Gloucestershire have given themselves a genuine chance of climbing off the foot of the table and leaving Lancashire with the wooden spoon.
Chasing 248 runs for a win on the final day, Lancashire resumed their innings at 120-6, needing another 128 for a win. However, their innings lasted only 22 more balls, as James Langridge picked up three wickets, ending with figures of 5-51.
THE WINNING MOMENTS!
— Gloucestershire Cricket (@Gloscricket) September 11, 2026
And a first @CountyChamp five wicket haul for JT Langridge!#BecomeGlorious pic.twitter.com/1qbRbhlfDi
George Balderson was the first to fall in the day, before Noman Ali and Mitchell Stanley departed. Rocky Flintoff, who top-scored with 65, the only batter to cross 25 in an innings where eight others made single-digit scores, was the last batter to fall as Lancashire folded for 142.
It was Langridge's debut five-for in professional cricket. He made his debut against Durham last week, picking up 3-89. In 11 List A games, he has 13 scalps with best figures of 3-63.
Earlier, Gloucestershire made 212 in their first innings, led by Daaryoush Ahmed’s 120-ball 51. Balderson had picked up four wickets. In reply, Lancashire were bowled out for 134, with Will Williams picking up 6-24. They set themselves a steep target after the opponents made 169 in the second innings.
India’s Sai Kishore picked up three wickets in the second innings, the only innings he bowled in the game. Lancashire's last win in the Championship was in April, incidentally against Gloucestershire.
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