West Australian opener Cameron Bancroft scored an unbeaten century to help Gloucestershire register its first County Championship victory in over 18 months.

Gloucestershire, who failed to muster a win in the County Championship last year, defeated Northamptonshire by 256 runs on Monday after Bancroft notched 130 not out in the second innings.

The right-hander, who also scored a half-century in the first innings, survived 205 deliveries at the crease to help set Northamptonshire an unlikely target of 558 for victory. The hosts were bowled out for 301 as Gloucestershire broke its 593-day drought.

It was Bancroft’s first century for Gloucestershire and 27th at first-class level.

“(Bancroft) did it with so much composure, so much skill and calmness,” Gloucestershire captain Graeme van Buuren said after the win.

“It’s what we’ve been missing over the last couple of years.”

Bancroft is currently Gloucestershire’s second-leading run-scorer of this season’s County Championship with 337 runs at 48.14 in four matches.

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Elsewhere in the County Championship, Sean Abbott celebrated his return to the United Kingdom with an unbeaten half-century during Surrey’s nine-wicket victory over Warwickshire at The Oval.

The New South Wales all-rounder, batting a No. 10, combined with centurion Jamie Smith for a 115-run partnership for the ninth wicket, reaching fifty in just 58 balls.

Abbott also claimed three wickets during the contest, including a brilliant return catch to remove Ed Barnard in the second innings.

Meanwhile, veteran seamer Peter Siddle claimed 3-74 on debut for Durham in the County Championship, with the four-day contest against Hampshire in Southampton ending as a draw.

The 39-year-old, who retired from Test cricket in 2019, replaced Victorian teammate Scott Boland in the Durham squad after the bowler suffered a heel injury last month.

Elsewhere, South Australian paceman Wes Agar took 1-88 during Kent’s drawn match against Worcester in Canterbury.