JAMES Franklin and Chris Taylor hit centuries as Gloucestershire saw off Northamptonshire Steelbacks, but it wasn't enough to earn the Gladiators a last-four spot in the Clydesdale Bank 40.

Gloucestershire won by 82-runs but saw Essex beat Yorkshire.

Franklin and Taylor combined for a partnership of 207 after they had come together with their side struggling on 61-3, before four wickets from David Payne ripped the heart out of the hosts' batting line-up. A slow start saw Gloucestershire lose both openers with the score on 19.

First to go was skipper Alex Gidman, who was caught by David Sales, off the bowling of Andrew Hall, for 12.

In the next over, Will Porterfield (five) offered a loose shot to a ball from David Lucas that was snared by Hall at first slip.

Hamish Marshall and Franklin put on 42 for the third wicket before the former was run out by Mal Loye for 23.

Franklin finished unbeaten on 108, while Taylor compiled his maiden one-day century (105) before being caught by James Middlebrook off the bowling of Gavin Baker.

Northants' opening stand was 14 before Rob Newton was trapped lbw in the third over by Steve Kirby for four.

David Sales lasted four deliveries before throwing his wicket away for a duck, as he chipped a ball from Jon Lewis to Gidman at mid-wicket.

Alex Wakely was next to go for 12 in the 15th over, sending a catch straight to Ed Young at mid-wicket off the bowling of Payne.

Opener Loye, who had been the backbone of their innings up until that point, was given out lbw for 43 attempting a reverse sweep to Richard Dawson to leave them on 69-4.

Hall (17) and Middlebrook (14) got starts before getting out, while Stephen Peters offered stubborn resistance for Northants, as he passed 50 in what turned out to be an anti-climactic finish.