GLOUCESTERSHIRE batsman Chris Taylor has played in many epic encounters at the Cheltenham Festival over the years, but he says the win over Middlesex in the CB40 clash on Sunday was the best of the lot.

The 33-year-old scored 85 off 78 balls in a fifth wicket stand of 185 with Steve Snell, who smashed a one-day best of 95 from just 62 balls, before Jon Lewis hit 20 off the last over as the Gladiators passed a daunting target of 300 with three wickets and one ball to spare.

After Taylor and Snell went within two balls of each other to West Indian pace bowler Pedro Collins and debutant Ed Young was bowled in the next over by Tim Murtagh, Gloucestershire’s challenge appeared to be fading.

But with four balls to go and 14 still needed, Lewis (22*) hit four over backward point and two off-drives for six off Murtagh to win it in dramatic style.

"I was ecstatic at the end," said Taylor.

"I thought we'd thrown it away. Steve Snell played a fantastic innings, we put on a good partnership and then we got out at a vital time so when the guys saw us through it was tremendous and a great feeling in the dressing room.

"Jon Lewis and Richard Dawson (16*) are big hitters of the ball so there was always a chance with those two."

Former England international Owais Shah struck 111 off 92 balls and shared 148 with John Simpson (82) to lead Middlesex to 299-7, and Taylor came to the crease with Gloucestershire in trouble at 41-3.

But that is the kind of situation the 5'7" man relishes, and he put on 59 with Hamish Marshall (44) before the match-winning partnership with Snell, who batted flamboyantly with a great array of strokes, to get Gloucestershire back in contention.

Taylor said: "We had to get some kind of partnership together and the emphasis was on knocking the ball around and trying to build something.

"Hamish and I did that to a degree and when Steve came in he changed the momentum of the game.

"With about 15 overs to go we needed about a boundary an over and if he didn't get it I'd get it so we did complement each other well and the tempo we played at I think changed the match."

It was Gloucestershire's second win in the CB40 competition at Cheltenham this year after Taylor top-scored with 83 in the win over Yorkshire, although they lost both County Championship clashes against Glamorgan and Worcestershire.

Taylor said: "Our form's been a little indifferent, but with the bat it's a very good place to play, the wicket's true, the outfield's quicker and the boundary is very small."

GLOUCESTERSHIRE have signed Ed Young on a two-year development contract.

The 21-year-old all-rounder, who is currently studying at Oxford Brookes University and plays for Oxford MCCU, made his debut against Middlesex Panthers on Sunday and has also represented the Unicorns in this year's CB40.

Young said: "This is what I have been working towards for a long time. It is good to get a reward for all my hard work at University.

"I am now looking forward to the next stage of my career and hope to progress to be a successful professional cricketer and a regular member of the team."