Brown delighted with victory against Gloucestershire

Lancashire's opening batsman Karl Brown said that the squad has 'a lot of confidence' after they achieved their fifth Championship victory of the season with a 91-run win against Gloucestershire.

Brown scored half-centuries in both innings in what proved to be a low-scoring affair at Bristol and the 27-year-old batsman has taken his opportunity to play first-team cricket well after Luis Reece suffered a broken hand earlier this season.

In the first innings Brown hit 57, his first fifty for Lancashire since May 2013 and he followed up a determined innings with his 15th first-class half-century in the second innings, top-scoring with 56 as Lancashire were bowled out for 253 on Day Three.

Brown said: "The team is the main thing and it is great to get the win, but it is obviously nice on a personal note to get a couple of fifties.

"Every run is a premium on a wicket like that and coming into the fourth day the difference of twenty of thirty runs could be massive," he added

Brown scored consecutive fifties in a low-scoring game to guide Lancashire to victory.

Kyle Jarvis claimed 5-39 in Gloucestershire's second innings as the home side were bowled out for 160 in their pursuit of 252, a score which would have given the hosts their second victory of the season against the Division Two leaders.

Brown paid tribute to the hard work of Lancashire's bowlers on the final day after the efforts of new-ball paring, Jarvis and Tom Bailey, set up a thrilling and unlikely victory, with James Faulkner contributing important wickets to help secure victory.

He said: "A lot of the lads are playing good cricket and we have got a couple of bowlers in great form. Obviously Jarv has got another five [wickets] and Bails is bowling really well. There is a lot of confidence throughout the team and I think it is something we will be looking to carry through the season."

Faulkner claimed his first Championship wicket for Lancashire, finishing with figures of 3-18 in 12 overs as he helped inspire a tremendous comeback, before he took the catch off Jordan Clark to end the match and claim 21-points for the Red Rose.

Brown, commenting on Lancashire's overseas all-rounder, said: "I think he has got a real competitive edge and I think that really shines through in his cricket. When he bowls he believes he is going to get people out and when he bats he believes that he is going to score runs and he likes taking the attack to the opposition, whether it is his batting or bowling and I think it makes a big difference."