THE weather denied the Cheltenham Festival crowd a potentially exciting finish as Gloucestershire suffered another defeat yesterday.

The pro40 clash was nicely poised with the county on 92-4 after 19 overs as they attempted to chase down Nottinghamshire’s total of 208.

Gloucestershire’s two shining lights of the Festival so far, Marcus North (19 not out) and David Brown (2 not out) were at the crease when the rain became too heavy to continue giving the visitors a nine-run win on the Duckworth-Lewis method.

Gloucestershire were in control on 70-1 before three quick wickets by Mark Ealham (3-10) swung the game Nottinghamshire’s way, as he removed Hamish Marshall (24) Alex Gidman (0) and Steve Snell (11).

Kadeer Ali was the first wicket to fall as he mis-timed a hook to Chris Read off the bowling of Andre Adams after he made a quick-fire 30.

Will Rudge starred with the ball for Gloucestershire, taking career best figures of 4-57.

He grabbed the early wickets of Graeme Swann and Matthew Wood before Steve Kirby produced a wonder catch diving to his left at fine leg off the bowling of Mark Hardinges (2-34) to remove the dangerous Mark Wagh.

When Adam Voges became Rudge’s third victim, Notts were reduced to 60-4 but Samit Patel (65) and Bilal Shafayat put on 62 to mount a recovery.

Read also made 33 down the order, lifting them to 208-8.