Coach Ripley admits Steelbacks were way off the pace as they surrender top spot

Northants were well beaten to drop to second in the table and be replaced by Gloucestershire at the top on net run-rate, with the head coach admitting his team simply failed to fire in any department.

The County's normally reliable pace bowlers struggled as Gloucestershire posted an 'over-par' 185 for six, with Chris Dent hitting 50 from 27 balls and Ian Cockbain 40 from 24.

And then the Northants' much-vaunted batsmen simply couldn't find their timing in reply, failing to hit a six in an innings for the first time this season as they were restricted to 150 for six in reply, with left-arm spinner Graeme van Buuren claimed three for 15 from his four overs

"We were disappointing all round," admitted Ripley.

"We were a little bit low on energy in the field, although we had the perfect start with a wicket a decent first couple of overs to put Gloucestershire under a bit of pressure.

"Then those guys (Dent and Cockbain) played well, they were still brave, they came at us and we just weren't at the same level as we have been in the first four games. It can happen in T20 cricket."

It has been a difficult week for the County after a player tested positive for Covid-19 last weekend, and it meant the team's practice was affected because they couldn't return to work until Thursday, as well as the fact four players were unavailable for selection as they are self-isolating.

"Although I don't want to particularly drift back to the week we have just had, it has been a little disruptive," said Ripley.

"We are better than we showed today and I think their score of 185 was considerably over par.

"We saw quite a lot of spin and it wasn't always easy to find the middle of the bat, so I think they were probably 25 over par with their score.

"So it was always going to be tough for us, but even with the bat we were down on where we have been to date."

The normally reliable seam bowling trio of Ben Sanderson, Nathan Buck and Gareth Berg had an off day, with their combined 10 overs going for 119 runs, and the head coach felt they got their tactics wrong.

"The surface was taking a bit of grip, so cutters may have been a better way to go, but we were slow to adjust and were still going back of the hands slower balls and knuckle balls," he said.

"We weren't really going hard into the surface and getting that little bit of cut and we were slow to react, where in other games we have been quick to react.

"But part of the issue there is things have been going well, you stick to what you know, when actually we should have been a bit smarter.

"The spinners bowled well, and I thought Luke Procter in his first game of the season made a good contribution, which was a positive, but all in all we just weren't at our best."

Procter was certainly a positive, taking one for 17 from three overs and then adding 20 not out late on, while Graeme White was once again outstanding, finished with three for 28 from four overs.

With the bat, the Steelbacks were 50 for none from five overs, but the introduction of van Buuren changed the match, as he had Paul Stirling stumped and then bowled Josh Cobb for a second ball duck in his first over, and then saw off Richard Levi, also stumped, in his next.

"Gloucestershire bowled well, and in particular their spinners, and they just got those two wickets at the end of the powerplay which were crucial," said Ripley.

"That meant we had to regroup a little bit against the ball spinning, and then we just drifted out of the game.

"We needed something special from the final 10 overs and it wasn't going to happen.

"We now have to dust ourselves off, recognise the things we haven't done very well, and the thing is there was some good honesty from the players after the game.

"There was no kidding ourselves, we know we didn't play well and we have to do better on Sunday."

The Steelbacks are back in action on Sunday when they travel to Cardiff to take on Glamorgan.