Bob Willis Trophy, Round 2
Gloucestershire v Warwickshire
08/08/2020
Day 1
It has been another difficult day for the Shire. 191-8 after
90 overs tells its own story. A day of attritional struggle, with the promise
that, unless the bowlers find much more success than they did against
Worcestershire, this match will be another battle to avoid defeat.
Three changes for the Shire, with David Payne, their most
dangerous bowler against Worcestershire, reporting ill and being replaced by George
Scott, Miles Hammond being replaced by Ben Charlesworth and Tom Smith replacing
Tom Price.
Despite Chris Dent failing for once – really the rest of the
batting seems to think sometimes that they can leave it all to him – when you
are 102-2 well into the afternoon session, having been put in to bat, you tend
to think that life is pretty good. Fourteen balls later it is 103-5 and the
Shire is in the Mire, big time. Oliver Hannon-Dalby is not the fastest bowler
in County cricket and has a rather peculiar, round-arm action, but he produced
a burst that was far too good for the Gloucestershire batting. It was a
horrible reminder of the first innings of the Worcestershire game.
Especially alarming was to see Ryan Higgins fall to his
fifth ball. Last season, Higgins and Dent carried the Gloucestershire side to
Division 1. Both scored a lot of runs and Higgins was the go-to bowler; this season,
Ryan Higgins looks out of sorts with both bat and ball. And, coming in just
after Higgins, Jack Taylor is trying desperately hard and has almost cut out
all scoring strokes in an attempt to get himself in and make a score but, just
when you think that the hard work is done, he falls. This is symptomatic of the
side’s efforts so far: the batting seems to lack collective confidence and the
cutting criticism of the fans – as opposed to the supporters – is making things
worse.
The long and short of it was that, just as earlier, when
Charlesworth and Hankins seemed to be batting Gloucestershire into control,
Roderick and Taylor seemed to have weathered the storm and be navigating Cabot’s
ship into calmer waters when both fell in ten balls: 155-5… the Shire were
beginning to fight back; 160-7 and 178-8… the Shire in the shite. There is a
collective nervousness that turns one wicket into two and two into three and
converts batsmen into strokelessness.
In theory, Gloucestershire have 30 overs more to bat. In
practice, to bat out the first hour, passing the 200 and getting a single
batting point will be the limit of any realistic aspiration. Tom Smith and Josh
Shaw saw out the last eleven overs but, until the penultimate ball of the day,
barely played a shot in anger.
Day 2
Glory be! The tail raised the 200 and obtained the batting
point. First objective realised. Having seen the first over, in which Oliver
Hannon-Dalby bent the ball so far after bouncing that there was no way that Tom
Smith could touch them, you would not have bet on Shaw and Smith lasting long, but they
extended their partnership to seventeen overs. However, when Hannon-Dalby
finally adjusted his line a fraction it was always going to be a catchweight
contest. The last two wickets fell in the space of three balls just a fraction
short of half an hour into the day. Eight batsmen in double figures, just three
past thirty and no one made a substantial score around which a total could be
built. It was a scorecard that spoke of batsmen never really getting in.
However, this was a much better day for the Shire all round.
With overcast skies for the first half of the day, prodigious swing on offer and a strong green tint in the centre
of the pitch it looked like conditions that the Gloucestershire attack might
exploit and, in the main they did. Ryan Higgins looked much more like the
bowler of the last two seasons as his rhythm started to come back and he bowled
some wonderful deliveries.
Two range-finders from Ryan Higgins to start the innings,
one of which went for four leg byes, the third delivery was straight and into
the pads. 5-1 became 15-2 as Matt Taylor claimed a second LBW, to add to the
four in the Gloucestershire innings. For the best part of an hour it looked
like the case of “the same old story” as Bell and Rhodes weathered the storm
and started to look alarmingly comfortable but, with the last ball before
Lunch, George Scott took his maiden wicket for the Shire and a mighty good one
it was too, despatching a becalmed Ian Bell who aimed a huge drive and edged to
George Hankins.
Meanwhile, Worcestershire were putting Glamorgan to the
sword and, by Lunch, Somerset were already well on the way to a two-day win
against Northants: maybe Gloucestershire’s defeat to the Pears was not quite as
bad as it looked?
Again, Warwickshire re-built, seemingly serenely. On came
Ben Charlesworth who, fourth ball, bowled Will Rhodes. The Shire hanging in
there… just. It was like that all afternoon: Warwickshire took the lead and
seemed ready to push on to a significant first innings advantage when a
double-wicket maiden from Matt Taylor pegged them back once more.
Twenty ahead, with just two wickets left, the lead may stay
small enough to turn this match into a virtual one-innings contest. The Gloucestershire
bowlers stuck to their task and looked in much better form and spirits: it was
good to see. With Warwickshire to bat last and some encouragement for the
bowlers, there is plenty to play for. Somerset’s second, crushing victory
suggests that they are likely to top the Group and the rest will be playing for
pride but, for the Shire, this season is about preparation for 2021. Today,
there were reasons to hope.
Day 3
The BBC Live Text made Day 2 unquestionably Warwickshire’s
day. It did not look so clear to me. Gloucestershire fought their way back into
the match tenaciously so, at best, you can say that Warwickshire had shaded the
day. The long and short of it was to start Day 3 with the two sides pretty much
level. If the last two wickets were to fall quickly, it was game on. If Warwickshire
could stretch their lead past 40, it might be decisive.
What has happened is that the match ends its penultimate day
with the clichéd “all four results possible”. It has been a day of punch and
counter-punch, with the momentum swinging one way and the other.
Initial impressions were not great. Warwickshire were
obviously looking at 250 and the second point and batted with no great alarms.
Craig Miles, as the Gloucestershire faithful will remember, is no mean bat
(5x50 and an average of 16.3, making him one of the better #10s in County
cricket) and Tim Bresnan continued calmly until Ryan Higgins served up a
tempter outside off, got some nice shape on it, Tim Bresnan flashed and guided
it through to a jubilant Gareth Roderick. Ryan Higgins is back.
The new ball was taken and produced one of the more bizarre
incidents that we will see this season. The first ball took Craig Miles on the
pad. The batsmen ran the leg bye with Gareth Roderick chasing the ball back of
Square Leg. His pads then came loose and, unable to re-fasten them, he decided
to ‘keep against the New Ball, standing back, with no pads. Fortunately, two
balls later, Higgins produced a lovely delivery on off stump, Hannon-Dalby
edged to George Hankins at Second Slip and the bowler had 4-54. The lead was 37
– probably a few more than the Shire would have liked – but 223-6 two overs
before the end of Day 2 had become 247ao. It could have been so much worse.
You wanted the Shire to get in the lead before losing a wicket.
Double figure lead at Lunch… good. Losing three wickets before knocking off the
deficit… bad. The match had taken another twist and lurched towards Warwickshire.
The Shire could have been expected to fold tamely, but van Buuren and Higgins
first blunted the attack and then started to counter-attack gloriously. A
century partnership, fifties for both and then, with two overs to Tea, it all
went wrong again as both fell to Henry Brooks. 118 the lead at Tea, but just
five wickets left. The Shire in the mire.
Jack Taylor, the man who desperately needs a score, has
battled almost two hours through to the Close. The lead is 160. The scoring
almost non-existent (7 from the last 10 overs of the day), but there are four
wickets left. Any chase over 200 will be tricky. 220 and Gloucestershire might
even be favourites.
We are in for a tense last day.
Day 4
YES!!!
Nerve-wracking, but a win. A good win even and 20 points.
But, this being the Shire, the supporters were put through
the wringer first.
That there would a fourth innings chase today was obvious.
What it would be, was not. Would Gloucestershire be bowled out quickly, setting
only around 180? Would they bat on for an hour or an hour and a half and
declare? Would Jack Taylor, 23* overnight, remember how to count beyond 26? (in
the last 12 months, his highest scores have been 26*, 26 and 23 twice)
Either way, with Somerset on two wins out of two, a defeat
would all but end the interest of both teams in the competition after just two
rounds. Only a win would keep either side in with a realistic chance of topping
the group and thus having a chance of progressing to the Final, although a draw
might be enough for Warwickshire if they could win their last three games. Both
sides wanted the win. Neither could afford a defeat.
The Gloucestershire approach was positive and busy. Jack
Taylor passed 26 for the first time in more than a year, but then got out. Runs were taken where
available. Quick singles were pushed. Twos were made into threes and the score
mounted. Even though wickets fell, the lead passed 200, then 220. Finally, with
Warks quite obviously trying to slow the game and avoid a declaration before Lunch
(they bowled just 25 overs in a morning session that, admittedly, was a few
minutes short of 2 hours), Matt Taylor came in as last man and biffed two
boundaries before edging to slip. Two overs for the change of innings saved,
but surely the Shire would have loved a couple of overs at the openers and a
wicket before Lunch?
275ao the total.
239 to win from 65 overs the equation for Warwickshire.
3.68 runs per over required, well above anything that either
side had achieved so far.
Draw the favourite?
Two overs passed quietly, then Ryan Higgins came up to bowl
his second over. TRIPLE WICKET MAIDEN!!!
Warwickshire 4-3. Oh my giddy aunt!
Rhodes and Lamb got the score up to 50 and were scoring a
little too freely for comfort when Josh Shaw sent a ball like a cannon shell through
Lamb and castled him: 50-4 and a little of the accumulated tension could bleed
off again.
With Will Rhodes still there and the bowling looking less
threatening by the minute, Tea was reached at 80-4. 159 required from 36 overs.
Run Rate Required 4.42. Warwickshire right back in the match.
The game lurching back towards Warwickshire. Would there be
a final twist in this convoluted game?
First ball after Tea. Higgins to Rhodes. Loosener down leg
side. Feather to the ‘keeper. 80-5. Extraordinary. Probably his worst delivery
of the day. Higgins has a touch of an Botham in his bowling.
A quiet few overs, with Warwickshire obviously no longer
interested in the win and Ryan Higgins had to be rested for a final push. On
comes Matt Taylor and, with the last two balls of his first over he removed
Thompson and Brooks. 109-8. 23 overs to go. Surely the Shire would finish it
off quickly now?
Craig Miles resisted 6 overs but, finally edged to the
Captain at First Slip. Ryan Higgins had his first 6-for and beat his career
best of 5-21 against Sussex in 2018. Middlesex, Middlesex! WHY did you let him
go?
Almost 17 overs to go. Higgins and Taylor had to be rested.
Hannon-Dalby has a First Class average of 6, surely Charlesworth and Shaw could
bowl a straight delivery? They did not make the batsmen play enough and, most overs, Tim
Bresnan was getting singles from the fourth or fifth ball.
Nine overs to go, Higgins was brought back and had a full
over at Hannon-Dalby, who replied with three boundaries.
Six overs to go, Matt Taylor came back and bowled a maiden
at Tim Bresnan. Ryan Higgins had Hannon-Dalby in his sights again. The tension
was growing with every ball. It looked increasingly as if Warwickshire would
produce an incredible escape.
Hannon-Dalby faces his 30th delivery after almost
an hour at the crease. Higgins bowls. Edge. Gareth Roderick, standing up,
reacts and pouches it. The Shire have won with 29 balls to spare.
Oh my word! What a nerve-wrenching way to win. 7-42 for Ryan
Higgins to add to his 4-54 in the first innings and 51 with the bat in the
second. Best bowling figures in an innings. Best bowling figures in a match. So
Gloucestershire do not have an X-factor player capable of changing a game??? If only he had more support.
What it means
Gloucestershire go third in the Central Group. That’s the
good news.
The bad news is that the Shire is still closer to the bottom
of the table than it is to second place. To have a sniff of topping the Group,
Gloucestershire would have to win and win well against Glamorgan and then, the
game against Somerset would become a case of winner takes all ahead of the
final round when Gloucestershire play Northamptonshire. Anything other than a win against Glamorgan
and Gloucestershire are out and these considerations become irrelevant.
However, with two of the last three games against the two weakest teams in the group, at least the Shire can dream on for another week.
Aftermath
The two teams with most points qualify for the Final. After
two rounds it would be Derbyshire and Essex, with Yorkshire and Somerset, both
just two points behind Essex, their nearest rivals. Gloucestershire are
currently 11th in the race, up from 17th after the first
game.
Due to a quirk in the rules, that allows for three groups, but no Semi-Finals, winning your group does not guarantee qualification for the final. Similarly, it is quite possible that, in the North Group, Yorkshire and Derbyshire could both end up with more points than any other team in the country, but then it would be the team with the next highest number of points that was also a group winner that would qualify. Confused? What happens if the other two group winners have the same number of points, wins and defeats (perfectly possible in this compressed format) I have no idea!
In all probability, the third round of games will eliminate mathematically
from the competition Surrey, Durham, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire, as
well as the loser of Glamorgan v Gloucestershire (both, if they draw and
probably two or three more losing sides will fall too). A 20-point win against
Glamorgan would put Gloucestershire on the fringes of the race to the Final, but
still well behind the top four: let us be realistic about our chances even
should we get a second win.
So, what did we learn about Gloucestershire in this win?
Well, one lesson is that they were able to win without big
runs from Chris Dent. They have tended to rely on him far too much for their
own good in recent seasons.
With the exception of Dent and Hankins, all the top eight made
at least one 30+ contribution: a big improvement on the Worcestershire game.
The winning target was based on getting runs right down the order.
The bad news was that, without Sid Payne, the change bowling
looked decidedly thin. Far too much depended on Ryan Higgins and Matt Taylor. The
two bowled 80.4 overs in the match, while the other four Gloucestershire
bowlers sent down a combined 70 overs. With seven genuine, front-line bowling
options, it should have been possible
to share the load more. Every time that Chris Dent needed a breakthrough he
went back to Higgins and Taylor. Every time that they were rested, the pressure
was released. In such a compressed season, with little recovery time between
matches, you cannot afford to bowl your key men into the ground.
Josh Shaw bowled one jaffa in the second innings and
contained throughout the match, but never looked likely to run through
Warwickshire. George Scott suggested that he is good enough to act as fourth or,
more likely, fifth seamer and batting all-rounder, but a solid, threatening
third seamer was required. Without one, Warwickshire almost escaped. At times
you cried out for the nagging medium pace of Benny Howell (unlikely to be fit before the T20), or Kieron Noema-Barnett (now of fading memory, but increasingly legendary powers) with their
ability to frustrate out batsmen with a mean spell of eight or ten overs of
stranglehold.
In this game, Graeme van Buuren did not get a bowl. Tom
Smith was preferred, but just 15 overs of spin were delivered in the whole
match, which was hardly a fair trial for him. What little he bowled suggested
that if you could combine Smith’s accuracy with van Buuren’s loop you would
have a formidable bowler. Combine Smith’s flat darts with van Buuren’s accuracy…
best not to think about that.
Gloucestershire are not “a mediocre Second Division side” as
one fan (as opposed to supporter) commented as frustration mounted on the final
afternoon. Warwickshire are a solid Division 1 outfit – spending 17 of the last
19 seasons in the top division – and came off clearly second best. After the
Worcestershire game, Warwickshire, even weakened by Test calls, with an
excellent top 4 and solid attack, were expected to ride roughshod over their
country cousins, so Gloucestershire are clearly finding their feet. However, to
satisfy the critics, this level of performance must be repeated against
Glamorgan. More than anything, though, it will be Round 4, against Somerset,
that shows how much progress has really been made.
The next round of matches starting on Saturday 15th
is:
·
Glamorgan v Gloucestershire
·
Warwickshire v Somerset
·
Northamptonshire v Worcestershire
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