Preview:
So, the only two sides in the country with a 100%
record are to meet in the star encounter in Round 3. Hampshire have blown away
Middlesex and Leicestershire. Gloucestershire have, to the surprise and delight
of their fans, won hard fought contests against Surrey and Somerset. Not since
1931, we are assured, have the Shire won their first two games. In what is a
short season, the winner of this clash would look already to have almost
unstoppable momentum towards a top-two finish and a tilt at being County Champions.
Everything indicates that this will be the hardest game of the season so far
for the energised Shire. It is also a major litmus test of the Shire’s season:
in theory, the first two games of the season were the hardest of this first
round and, after Hampshire, Middlesex and Leicestershire are lesser tests; of
course, the challenge will be to maintain the level and not to slip-up against
what appear to be lesser challenges.
So far, five Hampshire batsmen have scored
centuries in the first two rounds and a sixth has a fifty in each innings so
far, providing a major challenge for the Gloucestershire attack. The Hampshire
bowling has been as devastating at the batting led by 12 wickets at 8.9 for
Mohammad Abbas, backed-up by 9 wickets @ 20 for Kyle Abbott and 7 at 20.7 for
Ben Wheel. Overall, these are numbers that impose respect. And, lest one
forgets, there is also a major spin threat: Hampshire leg-spinner Mason Crane
also has six wickets, albeit at a slightly more expensive 39.2.
So, Hampshire promise to provide a massive
challenge both to the batsmen and the bowlers. Who will the Shire put out
against them?
This game brings the first selection crisis of the
season. Dan Worrall is in Bristol and available, but will undergo a fitness
test before the game, which puts the selectors in an embarrassing situation if
he is cleared to play. Gloucestershire are allowed to play two overseas
players, but have three on their books. If Dan Worrall and Kraig Brathwaite
play, Graeme van Buuren cannot because the paperwork for his qualification by
residence is paralysed in the system due to the COVID crisis. Graeme van Buuren,
though, had a starring role in the win against Surrey and has done a job as
spinner in both games. Without him, Gloucestershire lose their main spin option
and a middle-order batsman in prime form. A second issue is that David Payne’s
wife could go into labour at any time and, if she does, it is likely that he
would withdraw from the squad. This could give Dominic Goodman a chance to
retain his place, although Josh Shaw was withdrawn overnight on Monday from the 2nd
XI game v Yorkshire after having taken the new ball on the first day and is added
to the squad, as are Tom Smith and Ian Cockbain who were also withdrawn today from the 2nd XI match.
The suggestion is that Graeme van Buuren’s
potential absence from the XI is being covered by both Cockbain and Smith – the
latter will play if a spinner is required, the former if no – with no fewer
than six seamers picked in the squad to cover all eventualities.
Management have made a statement about their ambitions
for the season after this good start by signing New Zealand T20 international
Glenn Phillips for the Blast. He will also be available as cover for the final
two Championship group matches for which Dan Worrall is not available. If a top
two finish in the Group is on the cards when we come to those last two games,
management have stated that they are prepared to spend to attain it.
Day 1:
James Vince won the Toss and decided to bat in the
sunshine, so Gloucestershire bowled first for the third time in a row.
Gloucestershire made multiple changes, enforced and unenforced. Dan Worrall was
passed fit to play, but David Payne was missing from the XI on the day (with
more important, family issues on his mind). The call-up of Worrall meant that
Graeme van Buuren missed out as third overseas player and was replaced by Ian
Cockbain (for his first game since 2018). And Josh Shaw came back in place of
George Scott. The good news for GvB is that there are high hopes that his status
will change to English-qualified shortly. The outfield, showing the lack of
rain in April, was showing signs of turning brown and, without the normal lush
grass of spring, was very fast.
The Shire made a bad start with Bobby Bracey seemingly dropping
Weatherley, third ball, from Dan Worrall as he dived to his right, although it
was hard to tell if it was an edge or a ball that seamed prodigiously. The
player reaction seemed to indicate that there was no edge, but the TV images
appeared to show an edge that would not have carried to Brathwaite at 1st
Slip. Either way, Worrall was, at least at the start of the day, sometimes getting
the ball to move a lot off the pitch. A push to Square Leg by Holland from the
last ball of Ryan Higgin’s first over opened the scoring while Dan Worrall got
another edge off Weatherley that just fell short of a diving 4th
Slip. Six overs gone, 10-0.
With nothing much happening, James Bracey advanced to the stumps
to Ryan Higgins and was surprised by a ball that rose and hit him on the right
shoulder. Ten overs gone, 19-0 and Matt Taylor relieved Dan Worrall, whose
first spell had been a good one and should have been rewarded with a wicket in
his first over. The pitch was looking far better than it had for the Middlesex game
and was expected to get easier still, especially on Days 2 & 3. On came Dom
Goodman for the 12th over: straight ball first up, Weatherly played
across it, hit in front – 19-1, Weatherly gone for 8. Astonishing. Holland
fenced at Matt Taylor outside off, but could not quite get an edge and the ball
only just reached James Bracey, again suggesting the easy pace of the pitch.
Poor balls were few, accurate bowling was constant and scoring opportunities
limited. Dom Goodman dropped one short and it climbed alarmingly, hitting the
shoulder of the bat, but ballooning safe. 38-1 from 20 overs. Although the
occasional delivery had risen, far more were just barely making it to the
wicket-keeper. Attritional cricket.
The 50 came up with a crunching cut to the boundary by Holland of
Worrall the end of the 25th over. Slowly, the batsmen were getting
on top, but the run-rate was fixed at 2. With little run-scoring to cut-off,
there were three or four slips all morning, but there was little to interest
them. 65-1 at Lunch from 32 overs.
The same tonic post-Lunch. A lot of dot balls salted with the odd
scoring shot or boundary. One ball from the Rhino, whose first five over spell
had gone for just 7 runs, went down leg and beat everything, going for three
byes – a rare blemish – while Holland produced a crunching cover drive to the
boundary later in the same over. As if disapproving of such frivolity as seven
off an over, the batsmen went back into their shells against tight, probing
bowling and five overs went by without a run off the bat. As the run-rate
dipped below 2, the tactic seemed to be to tire the bowlers and to wait for
run-scoring opportunities later in the day, aiming to create scoreboard pressure
by accumulating a huge total.
Holland’s 50 came in 138 balls and, soon, the hundred was up in
the 44th over, with Holland 60* and Alsop, 23* and signs that the
score was accelerating. The captain asked for the ball to be changed but, after
a careful examination, the umpire returned it to him saying that it was not out
of shape. Possibly distracted by the interruption, Holland aimed a flick down
leg to the next ball; James Bracey got a glove to it, but could not hold on to
a difficult chance – he had been uncharacteristically untidy and this was the
second chance missed. Scoring was becoming easier as the bowlers lost their
line a little. At the same time, as the ball got softer you wondered how much
the lack of a spinner was going hurt the Shire: how long before Chris Dent
turned to Kraigg Brathwaite for an exploratory bowl?
At 143-1, Dan Worrall induced an edge from Holland’s bat. It went
straight to Kraigg Brathwaite at 1st Slip and went down. Holland 77*
and a bad one to miss. As if in atonement, Kraigg Brathwaite came on for the 58th
over and was milked for a two and a single from Alsop to bring up his fifty
from 134 balls (5x4). After a 4-over spell that was fairly inexpensive, but not
too threatening, we went back to an all-seam attack. Slowly, Holland moved up
to the 90s as runs started to come more freely. Two to Square Leg off Matt
Taylor took him to 98* out of 191-1. Two boundaries to Alsop from Josh Shaw
moved the score to 199-1 and the focus moved back to Holland, still on 98*,
with Kraigg Brathwaite and James Bracey seen to be on constant animated
conversation behind the stumps. A single
took him to 99* and brought up the 200 at the end of the 73rd over,
keeping him on strike. Short ball from Josh Shaw that he tried to hook and hit
him in the chest and, finally, a pull to leg for the two that took him to 101*
(229 balls, 13x4). It was an innings of application rather than great elegance
and was grinding-down the bowling.
The captain, resplendent in sunglasses and his ponytail tied in a
bun, brought himself on to try some occasional left arm spin. The first ball
turned and kept very low, but slowly enough for Alsop to cut for two. Seven off
the over as the two batsmen milked him. Alsop moved into the 90s – 218-1 and
still 20 overs left in the day. Runs flowing
far faster than they had for the first half of proceedings. Up came Alsop’s
century (200 balls, 11x4) as he punished the last Josh Shaw over before the new
ball was due. Back came Dan Worrall to take it and, finally, with his second
delivery, he got a ball through Holland’s defences to have him LBW for 114 (250
balls, 15x4), 247-2. Some relief at last. Worrall 1-26 from 14.2 overs and with his very
next ball he almost took the edge of new batsman, Sam Northeast. Back came Ryan
Higgins to share the new ball and the scoring slowed again, but there was very
little hint of a sudden fall of wickets. 90 overs gone, 266-2 and Matt Taylor
back into the attack for the last few overs of the day, along with Dom Goodman,
who had again been exceptional. Dan Worrall (19-7-38-1) and Ryan Higgins
(19-7-35-0) had been admirably economical, but would have preferred a few more
in the wickets column.
Two overs to go and Gloucestershire resigned to going into Day 2
with a sizeable problem. Matt Taylor, who had been a little expensive, bowled
one down leg. Northeast chased it and got a tickle to Bobby Bracey who made no
mistake. Northeast waited for the decision, but it was 291-3 and a bonus
wicket. In came Mason Crane, who played a most peculiar defensive shot off
Goodman and survived a loud shout for LBW that maybe was just going down.
292-3, Alsop 127* at the Close.
It was not a “wheels off waggon” day but, as was inevitable, a day
when things did not go as hoped was due sooner or later. Hampshire batted with
enormous patience and reaped the rewards, while the Gloucestershire attack
largely bowled pretty well for very little reward. However, this was a day the
lack of a front-line spinner was missed. The bowlers know that they are in for another
hard day tomorrow.
Day 2:
Another start in glorious sunshine, if a little cold for Kraigg
Brathwaite’s taste. With overs running out to accrue bonus points,
Gloucestershire needed three wickets in fourteen overs for a second point.
Hampshire, with two batting points in the bag, a third a mere formality and a
fourth, likely, were going to want to bat for at least two sessions before
declaring. The Hampshire strategy looked to be to bat once, make inroads in the
evening session and then give their attack a night to rest and start again on
the third morning.
Third ball, Alsop shuffled across his stumps and Dan Worrall
pinned him in front but, unfortunately, to a ball pitching outside leg… His
shuffle across the stumps meant that he would always be in trouble if he
missed, but the problem for the bowlers was that he was not missing many. Then nightwatchman
Crane played and missed, continuing to try to convince the bowlers that he was
not planning to hang around. The 300 came up at the end of the 101st
over; the early breakthrough that Gloucestershire needed had not come yet.
Finally, Ryan Higgins got a ball to lift a little and move away and Crane edged
through to Bracey. 302-4 and 8.4 overs to take two more wickets. The bad news
was that Crane’s departure only brought in James Vince. James Bracey advanced
to the stumps, but it seemed evident from the tranquil batting that Hampshire
were not interested in chasing the extra batting point. With eight balls left
for bonus points Ryan Higgins rapped Vince on the pads, but the huge shout was
met with icy silence. 110 over gone, 322-4. Bonus points 3-1 to the hosts.
Josh Shaw changed to bowling round the wicket, barely within the
tramlines to Alsop. What initially looked like a couple of wild deliveries was
a tactic that almost paid off as Alsop took a wild slash at one that just
barely missed the edge but, at the same time, hardly lifted after pitching and
bounced twice before reaching Bracey. Then there was a strange moment when Vince
charged down the wicket at Josh Shaw, aimed a wild heave that clipped the
inside edge and reached James Bracey on the half volley. Bracey could not take
it cleanly and could not react in time to throw down the wicket. It was another
moment of frustration, another “if only” moment when, on a day when fortune was
not with the Shire, Vince could have been out twice to the same delivery. Finally,
Ryan Higgins bowled one down leg, Alsop tried to nudge it and Bracey took a
fine catch. Alsop strangled down leg for 149 (290 balls, 19x4), Hampshire
332-5. The bad news was that Ryan Higgins was bowling some very fine balls that
made you wonder what the Hampshire attack could do.
Once again though, things settled down and the ball went back to
doing very little. Dom Goodman came on for another tight spell, but runs still
came at the other end and Hampshire were clearly accelerating for an afternoon
declaration. 376-5 from 125 overs at Lunch and you wondered where a wicket
might come from.
However optimistic he might be, one suspects that Dan Worrall
would not have imagined that he would be on a hat-trick early in the afternoon
session as Vince passed his 50. 403-5, Vince and Dawson rubbing it in. Then,
unexpectedly, a waft outside off, inside edge from Vince and James Bracey took
a low catch that barely reached him. Vince out for 52. In came McManus. High
backlift. Jabbed down on one outside off and the edge sailed to the captain, at
2nd Slip, who took a low catch diving forward. McManus stayed,
presumably thinking that it was a bump ball. The umpires consulted and, after a
long delay, McManus went. 403-7. Hat-trick ball, wide of off, swinging further
away and ignored by Abbott. The batsman though did not hand around for long.
Yorker from Worrall. Abbott hit straight in front. 419-8 and Dan Worrall on
4-67. At 291-2 you would imagine that Chris Dent would have taken this
position. However, Dawson was still there and knows how to hold a bat. Up came
his 50 with a boundary and then a cut for two off Higgins. 436-8 and the ninth
wicket partnership was becoming a nuisance. Dawson was making it clear that he
was going to add runs as quickly as he could. He launched the Rhino high into
over Mid-Wicket to bring up the 450 with a six in the 141st over and
move into the 60s. Another curious moment as he crashed a ball over Long Off
and, thinking that it was four, did not run until the more alert Wheal had
almost reached his end as the ball was intercepted inside the rope. Next ball
he tried an even bigger wahoo and edged it onto his own stumps. Dawson gone for
65. Ryan Higgins with 3-75.
The last pair decided to swing at everything and, for a short
while, it came off. Yorker from Ryan Higgins, a swing and a miss from Abbas .
470ao and Higgins with a highly respectable 4-78. In retrospect, though, one
suspects that Tom Smith will be thinking that he should have been in the XI
instead of one of the seamers and it would be hard to argue that he is wrong if
he was thinking it. Even so, the figures for Worrall, Higgins and Goodman were
pretty heroic in a total of 470.
The Shire needed a good start, but did not get it. Brathwaite
opened the scoring with a confident clip to Square Leg for two and the batsmen
played busily, taking singles where available to rotate the strike. The pitch
looked easy. Abbas was not looking threatening. Then he bowled a straight, full
length ball at Chris Dent, which the captain, with his spread-eagled stance, simply
missed. Dent LBW Abbas 6. 18-1 and out walked James Bracey in an all too
familiar crisis. However, an idea of the nature of the pitch is given by the
way that Liam Dawson was wheeling away as early as the 9th over.
Hampshire were already thinking that it would be a long haul and that they
needed to be spelling their quicks.
30-1 from 13 overs at Tea and a lot of hard work to do for the
batsmen. The first target would be 321 and the follow-on. A push for a single
from Kraigg Brathwaite brought up the 50 in the 21st over as he and Bracey batted sensibly, minimising risks. The
50 partnership came up in the 25th over with a clip off his hip from
James Bracey. A fine cover drive for four brought Kraigg Brathwaite’s 50 (51*,
90 balls, 4x4), 93-1. Bracey switched to an Off Stump guard against Dawson and
brought up the hundred with a cut behind point. Brathwaite 57*, Bracey 36*, in
the 35th over. 10 overs to the Close. Both batsmen playing with
confidence and few alarms. Could they stay together to the end of the day?
James Bracey pushed away from his body and the Chinese cut just
passed the stumps. Dawson was wheeling away accurately, but with little threat.
Then he pitched one on Off, it turned a little and caught Kraigg Braithwaite’s edge,
with McManus gratefully swallowing the edge. Brathwaite 60 (116 balls, 4x4),
106-2 and some of the shine had gone off the session. Six overs remained and
out came Tom Lace. The day ended extremely quietly: just two singles came off
the last five overs. Tom Lace again, a sleeping partner, 0* at the Close after
18 balls; he needs to convert starts into 50s and this is just the pitch on
which to play yourself into form as, provided that you play straight, there is
little danger. 114-2 from 45 overs at the Close, Bracey 46*.
Again, much will depend on James Bracey tomorrow, but the match
already looks to be heading towards a hunt for bonus points. If Gloucestershire
avoid the follow-on tomorrow – 321 – which they should do, it is hard to see a
route to a positive result. As important in the context of the season will be
to reach 350 in 110 overs.
So, a much better day, today. Dan Worrall (31-11-74-4), Ryan Higgins (32.1-9-78-4) and Dom Goodman (25-8-54-1) were all heroic with the ball. Kraigg Brathwaite has his first 50 for the Shire and has shown that he is adapting to County cricket. And James Bracey is approaching another fifty. But the middle order has to stand up and be counted tomorrow: the Shire need two big partnerships from them.
Day 3:
Bright sunshine again. Kyle Abbott opening with a maiden to James
Bracey. Attention back on Tom Lace, facing Holland at the other end. First and
third balls swinging away well outside off and ignored. Second, straighter and
met by an impeccable forward defensive. Fifth, full and down leg, clipped away
confidently to the boundary. Tom Lace was on his way. After six overs, the
Shire 128-2, with Tom Lace 13* and James Bracey so far only adding a single to
his overnight total. However, a cut to the boundary in the 8th over
of the morning took him to another 50, made off 136 balls (6x4). A push for a
couple from Lace took the Shire to 150-2 in the 57th over (Bracey
59*, Lace 19*), batting looking comfortable, with Hampshire using Abbas at one
end and Dawson at the other.
Tom Lace has made a bad habit of getting to 20, looking solid and
getting out and, with the partnership approaching 50, he did it again; fence
outside off at a ball from Abbas and a gentle edge to the ‘keeper. 151-3 and,
once again, just as the batsmen were getting comfortable and on top, a wicket
fell. In came Ian Cockbain for his first innings in two seasons. What the Shire
did not need was to lose a wicket in bizarre circumstance, but James Bracey
left a ball from Abbas that was straight on Off Stump and hit middle and off:
the crazy angle at which the middle stump was leaning suggested that it was not
a great leave. Now, it was 158-4 and the follow-on was looking a long way away.
Bracey out for 65 (169 balls, 7x4). Liam Dawson’s 17 overs had cost just 25
runs. The pressure right on Cockbain and Higgins and not much batting left
after them.
181-4 from 75 overs at Lunch and the follow-on mark looking
further than ever. Ian Cockbain 12*, Ryan Higgins 11*, 140 more needed.
However, you felt that if the follow-on were saved, probably there would be too
little time left to get a result.
First ball after Lunch a bit full toss from Crane to Ian Cockbain,
gently stroked through the covers for a boundary. 200 up with a turn square by
Ryan Higgins from the mean Dawson, as the trial by spin continued after Lunch.
First bonus point in the 83rd over and the scoring had slowed so
much that even 300 in 110 overs was looking tricky. What runs were coming were
mostly off Crane at the other end, who was less accurate, but getting the odd
one to bounce and turn nicely. Cockbain 23* and Higgins 19*, battling hard. Back
came Abbott with the new ball and immediately got Ryan Higgins to fence at one
outside off: a nasty moment that he survived… just. Still, both batsmen were
playing confidently. The partnership was standing at 49. Abbas bowled a lovely
ball that moved in a little. Ian Cockbain played all round it and the Off Stump
went flying. 205-5, Abbas 4-38, Cockbain 24 (101 balls, 2x4) and
Gloucestershire back in the Pits faster than you could say “Sebastian Vettell”.
It was the tonic for the day: Hampshire were stopping every partnership before
it could become dangerous.
In came George Hankins, another player with bags of talent, who
wanted a score to cement his position. Another wicket and Hampshire would have
fancied their chances of enforcing the follow-on with a huge lead but, after a
slow start, the pair played with increasing confidence. The chances of a third
batting point disappeared, but the more important target of 321 was getting
closer. A quick single for Ryan Higgins, pushed to off brought up the 250, his own
50 (113 balls, 2x4) and the second batting point, in the 105th over.
Then the batsmen started to accelerate against Crane and Dawson. Crane offered
a huge full toss that George Hankins hammered to Mid-Wicket, although only for
a single, then he served-up a long hop down leg that Ryan Higgins despatched
with considerable violence. Dawson dropped one short and Ryan Higgins met it
and launched it over Long On for six, watching the ball’s flight like a golfer
who has just sent a perfect two iron onto the centre of the green. 271-5 at
Tea, Ryan Higgins 64*, George Hankins 25*, 199 the deficit and just a single
over left for bonus points.
Crane resumed after Tea, just the 29 needed from 6 balls for a
third batting point. 273-5 at the end of the 110th over and 2
batting points for the Shire, 1 bowling point for Hampshire. 4-3 to the home team
overall. Crane overpitched and George Hankins launched it to the Long On
boundary. Next ball Crane delivered a perfect ball that pitched middle and
turned away. Possibly taken by surprise, George Hankins played across his pad
and was absolutely plumb. George Hankins 31 (73 balls, 3x4), 283-6 and the
follow-on still 38 away, which brought Holland back to try to remove the tail.
Then, the killer blow: a poor ball from Crane well outside off, Ryan Higgins
went to sweep violently and only managed to edge the ball onto the stumps.
Higgins out for 73 (139 balls, 3x4, 1x6). Gloucestershire 288-7 and the
excellent work of the batsmen before Tea undone. 33 to save the follow-on and
only the bowlers left. Matt Taylor tried to launch Crane out of the stadium and
the ball fell between two fielders then, inexplicably, Dan Worrall left a
perfectly straight delivery next ball that hit all three stumps. 298-8 and
things starting to look very black for the Shire. The second batsman to be
bowled leaving a ball that hit middle… add two batsmen having dragged on wide
balls: the bowlers having more than their fair share of fortune.
300 up in the 118th over, but now things were getting
serious. Defeat was becoming a real possibility. A two hit high over Dawson’s
head and then one swung to the Mid-Wicket boundary by Josh Shaw: 8 needed. Next
ball, Dawson defeated Shaw’s forward defensive, clean-bowled, 313-9. Oh dear!
In came Dom Goodman, an excellent bat at junior levels, but a genuine #11 at
this level. Single to Matt Taylor. 7 needed. A couple more singles to Matt
Taylor. 5 wanted. Another single. 4 wanted and just 108 overs left in the
match. Goodman was hit on the pad with consecutive deliveries by Dawson who
implored the umpire to give them, both though were going down leg. Then Dom
Goodman got off the mark with a nudge to Fine Leg for two. Just 2 needed. A
drive for a single by Matt Taylor… one more. Every ball that passed the bat was
met either with an appeal for a catch, or McManus whipping off the bails and
asking for a stumping. With one more wanted to save the follow-on, Matt Taylor
cut at Dawson and the ball flew to Vince at Slip. Vince juggled twice and,
finally held on. Gloucestershire 320ao, Taylor 11, Goodman 2*. 150 behind. 6
overs left in the day. Matt Taylor and Dom Goodman had resisted for eleven and
a half overs and, surely, had done enough to save the game.
Hampshire, 132 overs in their bowlers’ legs, had to enforce the
follow-on and did. Chris Dent turned Abbott to Long Leg for a single and
Gloucestershire were on their way, then Kraigg Brathwaite left a ball from outside
off from Abbott that came back a long way and kept low and only just missed Off
Stump, scuttling through for two byes. Not good for the nerves. The batsmen
survived though. 14-0 at the Close. Kraigg Brathwaite, 10*. Chris Dent, 2*. 136
to make Hampshire bat again. The Shire are not going to win this one, but could
lose it if they are not careful.
Day 4:
The equation was simple for both sides. Hampshire needed ten
wickets on a pitch where the occasional ball was going through very low and the
occasional ball was turning, but not sharply. Gloucestershire had to bat far
enough past Tea to make a chase impossible. The supporters of the Shire were to
be put through the wringer.
In reality, the equation was more complicated. If Gloucestershire
got ahead, every run and every over counted double: one more run to chase in
the fourth innings, one fewer over to get the runs. And, on the Hampshire side,
their attack had bowled 138 overs off the reel already. Abbas and Abbott had
been rested after Tea the previous day, but that meant even more overs for the
support bowlers. With a potential 80 overs to the handshake, James Vince faced
his side being in the field for almost 220 overs if they could not bowl out the
opposition (in the end, they spent 229.1 consecutive overs in the field). This would be an interesting balance for both sides, Gloucestershire
knew that the sooner that they could get ahead, the better the chance of saving
the game and of some easy runs later in the day, but they could not afford to
give away wickets. Hampshire knew that if they over-attacked, they risked
giving away runs that would make their task harder. The match should be a
draw, but how the two sides went about getting to it would be fascinating. That
it ended as a draw was down to the heroics of Shaw and Goodman who held on for
22 overs but, ultimately, the bowlers were too exhausted to finish the job
after almost 230 overs in the field.
Again, bright sunshine. Abbas opening to Kraigg Brathwaite, who
tucked the fifth ball of the day behind Square to run an easy single and start
the scoring, followed by a nicely clipped boundary off a ball from Abbott that
was over-pitched on leg. However, the need to see off the new ball attack and
tire the bowlers led to maiden after maiden being bowled; it was not until the
eighth over of the day that Chris Dent pushed the single that took him off his
overnight 2*. Slowly the scoring chances started to appear: Chris Dent clipped
Abbas nicely off his legs for three, a rather ungainly Brathwaite deflection to
a ball that lifted from Abbott went to the Cover boundary. 29-0 after ten overs
of the morning and on came the change bowlers and, with them, two wickets.
Perhaps the batsmen relaxed too much as the opening attack came off. Whatever
the reason, both Wheal and Dawson took wickets in their first over.
Chris Dent got a good ball outside off from Wheal that lifted a
touch. He played at it with an angled bat and the edge went high to Dawson at first slip, who took it by his
face, tumbling backwards. Two balls later, Dawson was on and offered a tempting
ball outside off that Kraigg Brathwaite advanced to and drove in the air,
miscuing to Abbott. Two wickets in three balls, both openers gone, 33-2 and the
Shire staring down the barrel. Fifty up in the 25th over (50-2,
Bracey 9*, Lace 7*) and now it was simply a fight to survive. James Bracey had
to contend with a Silly Point, a Short Forward Square Leg and a Slip very close
in. He drove at Dawson, edged and it was 50-3. Scoreboard pressure was now
playing on the minds of the batsmen and an innings defeat was looming.
Only 27 overs were bowled in the morning session. Despite using
the spinners much of the time, the need to conserve the strength of the bowlers
led to a dreadful over-rate. Gloucestershire 67-3, Tom Lace 20*, Ian Cockbain
3*. Still 83 behind.
Post-Lunch, Tom Lace and Ian Cockbain came back out and battled
hard. One ball from Abbott lifted alarmingly outside off and Lace swayed back
in an undignified, but successful attempt to avoid it. On came Crane and a cut
for a single took the Shire half way to making Hampshire bat again. Then Ian
Cockbain mowed a ball down leg to the Square Leg boundary. The two spinners
offered a huge contrast in styles. Crane was more liable to bowl the unplayable
ball, but does offer scoring chances, while Dawson offered very little to hit,
inviting the batsman to commit suicide out of pure, scoreless frustration. Tom
Lace has struggled to pass the twenties recently, but a single of Crane took
him to 30 and then consecutive boundaries off Wheal – the first, a magnificent
cut, the second an edge along the ground between ‘keeper and First Slip – took
him to 38* and the Shire past 100, bringing up the 50 partnership. 101-3, 49
behind, Cockbain 20*. Wheal bowled a ball well outside off that was angling in,
Tom Lace edged and Wheatley took a fantastic, diving catch, low at very wide
Second Slip. Lace perhaps a little unlucky not to get away with it, but 103-4,
with 52 overs to go, Hampshire were taking their chances, something that
Gloucestershire had not done. Tom Lace out for 38 and the Shire back in
trouble.
Slowly the runs were being whittled down. Wheal dropped short and
Ian Cockbain hooked imperiously to go to 34* and reduce the deficit to 28. Abbas
was into his third spell of the innings and was walking back to his mark
increasingly wearily after nearly 200 overs in the field. A No Ball for a wild
bouncer that McManus only barely managed to haul down brought the deficit down
to 20. 40 overs left, Gloucestershire 132-4 (Cockbain 35*, Higgins 13*), just
18 behind and this had a look of a last effort from the Pakistani quick,
although, in 17 overs the new ball would be due and Hampshire were looking
increasingly likely to need to use it.
Tea came at 133-4, Cockbain 36*, Higgins 13*, 17 behind and a
nominal 38 overs to go. For the first time in a while it had definitely been
Gloucestershire’s session.
Abbott partnering Crane after Tea. Now, just a single Slip and no
other close fielders for Crane. Another hour together for Cockbain and Higgins
and surely the match would be safe. The bowler was unable to replicate the
precision of Dawson that had brought so much pressure on the batsmen. Unfortunately,
though, Abbott though was still steaming in and got one past Ian Cockbain’s bat
that hit him in front. Cockbain 36 (122 balls, 4x4) and the match back in the
balance, still 17 behind and George Hankins the last specialist batsman.
Suddenly talk of a ten to five touch of elbows again looked awfully premature.
The Shire making it interesting again when the hard work seemed to have been
done. A beautiful straight drive down the ground from Ryan Higgins brought the
deficit down to 1. Crane then offered him with next ball and Ryan Higgins cut
hard to take the Shire into the lead and him to 28*. Abbott though was not
finished. Beautiful delivery to Higgins, cutting in a little, inside edge,
Middle Stump uprooted. 154-6, the lead just 4 and Higgins out for 29. The match
had swung yet again. Hampshire clearly favourites to finish it off.
For 44 balls George Hankins and Matt Taylor hung on, almost
scoreless. With two overs to the second new ball, Wheal struck what seemed like
the final, killer blow. Short ball, George Hankins ducked. The ball brushed his
glove on the way to the helmet and flew to Vince in the Gulley, who snaffled the
rebound. Hankins out for 8 and Gloucestershire 161-7. In came Dan Worrall.
First ball was fast an straight, Dan Worrall’s forward defensive was down the
wrong line. Leg stump uprooted. 161-8 and Wheal on a hat-trick. In came Josh
Shaw, ultimately the hero of the hour, who was perilously close to nicking the
hat-trick ball as it went down past leg. Last over before the new ball. Mason
Crane bowling and a sense of the inevitable in the air. Crane bowled a ball to
Matt Taylor that turned in. Taylor offed no stroke and was palpably LBW. Three
wickets had fallen in six balls. 161-9 and 22 overs and a new ball for the last
pair to survive. The position looked hopeless.
Wheal kept rushing in and Josh Shaw was able to nudge one on his
legs for four. 15 the lead, 21 overs to go. Then an guide through the slips for
another boundary next ball: 19 ahead. A ball down leg from Crane that beat everything
and the batsmen scrambled 3 byes: 11 runs in 3 balls and the lead up to 23. The
new ball was taken in the 83rd over and Abbas came back for a final
effort. One more over ticked off, then a second, then a third and a fourth.
Fourteen overs remaining if there was a change of innings and the lead now 28. After
five overs with the new ball, Dawson was back – Abbot had been given just two
overs – and then Wheal replaced Abbas. Josh Shaw kept inching up the score as
Dom Goodman held firm at the other end. Seven overs maximum left for Hampshire to
bat, 32 the lead… surely they couldn’t pull this off? Horrible imaginings in
the Hampshire side of the win escaping. A bubble of hope among the Shire fans.
Still Wheal had the energy to rough-up Goodman with a bouncer. Finally, Dom
Goodman got off the mark with a single to leg from his 39th ball.
Six overs maximum to bat, the lead 34. Five men round the bat for Crane. A bye
from a wild one down leg and a sixth fielder joined the ring around Dom Goodman
who scooped one just out of reach of Silly Mid Off, the ball running to the boundary.
A maximum of 5 overs to bat, the lead 39, Josh Shaw 19*, Dom Goodman 5*. Still
Wheal had the energy to bowl a bouncer, but now the equation was looking
increasingly difficult for Hampshire. Josh Shaw sent a Chinese cut for four,
the lead was now 43 and, even if the last wicket fell next ball, Hampshire
would have just 4 overs to chase them. A long conference between the batsmen in
mid-pitch. Six men round the bat. Crane bowled a huge full toss that Dom
Goodman despatched with aplomb. 47 the lead and, now, Hampshire must have known
that it was all over. Wheal charged in for one, last effort, but Josh Shaw
hardly had to play a ball. With five overs remaining, the lead 47 and a maximum
of 2 overs after the change of innings, Hampshire called it off.
Josh Shaw and Dom Goodman showed that, albeit against exhausted
bowlers, it was a pitch that a determined batsman could survive on. They had
done so for 17.3 overs and had added 36, precious runs. The Shire has escaped
with an extraordinary draw and 11 points and stayed second in the group,
sixteen points ahead of Somerset and twenty-five ahead of Middlesex, who they
face next.
The stuff of legend. #GoGlos
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