County Championship Round 14 Gloucestershire v Durham

 

 

County Championship Round 14

Gloucestershire v Durham

 

Preview:

Gloucestershire’s season ends with a game at the Bristol County Ground and a mid-week start. The game ends a rollercoaster season that has seen huge highs and terrible lows, but which could confirm the Shire as the only side to win more than half its matches in the 2021 Championship. The Division 2 title has been all but wrapped up by Essex, who need just 4 points to confirm it but, according to how results fall, Gloucestershire could finish as low as fourth or, if Essex suffer a big defeat, could even still win the Division. In other words, this game is about an end of season ranking between 7^th and 10^th.

As positions will be decided by average points per game, Gloucestershire are effectively 0.33 of a point ahead of Durham, with Northants a further 1.67 points behind. The bottom line is:

·        If Durham get two points more than Gloucestershire in this match, they will finish ahead. In contrast, any result better than two points fewer than Durham will guarantee that the Shire can finish no lower than third.

·        If Gloucestershire and Durham draw, Northamptonshire will almost certainly finish ahead of both with a win against Essex.

Gloucestershire will be led today by James Bracey, who will take on the load of captaincy, wicket-keeping and batting at 3. Chris Dent, who has led Gloucestershire to promotion in 2019 and overseen a huge rise in fortunes, steps back. While not a natural captain, he has led by example and his results have spoken for themselves, with the Shire highly competitive in recent seasons after several years in the doldrums. Chris Dent has finished with the seventh highest win percentage of any Gloucestershire captain.

Some captains, such as Mike Brearley, have such a mystical touch that they can add value to a team even when not worth their place in the side. Sometimes, as when England picked Keith Fletcher, they went for a senior player who commands respect. Often, though, a side picks its best player and hopes that he has the ability to do the job: some, like Michael Vaughan, were very fine leaders, others, such as Ian Botham or Andrew Flintoff, did not have a natural ability to lead, but tried to lead by example, inspiring others with their performances. Chris Dent would place himself in this last category. He has never had the mystical quality that Mike Brearley made his signature, but he has shown an impressive ability to direct comebacks from difficult positions on Days 3 and 4 of a match. The wins against Surrey and Glamorgan this season have shown a happy knack of being able to turn what looked like a rock-solid draw into an eventually comfortable win.

A new captain will not be announced until after the new Head Coach is appointed, but it may not be insignificant that, to the bewilderment of fans and commentators, Graeme van Buuren took over in the field during the Glamorgan game before the official announcement of Chris Dent’s resignation was made.

Gloucestershire include Ben Wells and Ollie Price, giving the option of playing three spinners and also of playing James Bracey as a specialist bat. Some tough selection choices await in the morning, but possibly the simplest option would be for Scott, Wells and Ollie Price to miss out from the chosen 14.

Day 1:

Not too many people called the final XI right. Both Ollie Price and George Scott were in the final XI (replacing Warner and Charlesworth, respectively), giving Gloucestershire three spin and four seam options. The fact that it was a used pitch might well have influenced the choice, even if it had a significant tinge of green to it, although it changed colour abruptly just on the spinner’s length.

Durham won the Toss and decided to bat in front of a sparse crowd. David Payne opening the attack in bright sunshine, but only briefly, as a serious accident nearby obliged an air ambulance to land on the outfield, leading the players to retire to the dressing room after just five balls.

After a delay of some twenty minutes, play resumed and the Durham openers continued, with Lees, in particular, looking in fine form, taking three boundaries in the first seven overs: two from Ryan Higgins and one from David Payne, with Jones more watchful at the other end. It was not long before James Bracey advanced to the stumps to Ryan Higgins, who surprised both batsman and wicket-keeper with a delivery that beat the bat outside off and lifted, James Bracey making an excellent take. It was Jones who was first to go, falling in the following over, as David Payne brought a ball back a long way to get him LBW for 6,: 25-1 in the eleventh over. In came Borthwick and got a big edge to his first ball. Miles Hammond took the catch, even if Borthwick waited to be given. That made it 25-2, with Payne on a hat-trick. From looking comfortable, suddenly batting looked a more difficult proposition and, first ball of Ryan Higgin’s next over Lees survived a loud LBW appeal.

Despite the wickets, there were too many boundary balls: out of the first 43 runs, 36 had come in boundaries off the bat or as leg bye boundaries from misdirected balls down leg. The inevitable result was that different places of protective equipment started to appear preparatory to Zafar Gohar being thrown the ball to bowl from the Pavillion End. In came a Slip and Tom Lace under the lid at Short Leg. Zafar’s first ball turned a lot, albeit going down leg. The next was turned straight to Tom Lace and a Leg Slip was added immediately. It was good to see that on a pitch offering turn, for once Gloucestershire had some firepower. Lees responded though, with Zafar’s over ending with three, consecutive boundaries. It was now 48 of 55 runs in boundaries. Zafar, though, got some revenge when Bedingham edged him to Miles Hammond at 1^st Slip: 72-3 in the 20^th over. Eckersley came in an edged his first ball just short of Price, at Slip. However, the general tonic of the morning continued as two boundaries came off the over as well.

It looked like a deliberate strategy to try and hit the bowlers off their line and make hay before an unplayable delivery arrived.

Lees had reached 40 when he fell in a bizarre way. He swept hard at Zafar. The ball went vertically off a top edge and Miles Hammond pouched the ball. The batsman waited. The umpires conferred and, finally, Lees walked, apparently without waiting for the finger: 77-4. Wicket-maiden for Zafar. It later transpired that Zafar was appealing for LBW. That the ball had hit the boot and then the back of the bat as Lees tried to sweep so, when it was decided that there was an edge and that the ball had not bounced, Lees accepted that he had to go.

So, 78-4 from 23 overs at Lunch. A most un-Bristol-like pitch. And a game moving along apace.

Although the batting was not so frenetic after Lunch, four-balls continued aplenty and the Durham hundred came up in the 32^nd over. Finally, on came Graeme van Buuren for the 33^rd over and Gloucestershire had spin at both ends. It seemed as if the pitch had calmed and the batsmen were seeing off the storm when Eckersley drove a fairly inoffensive ball from Graeme van Buuren straight to Chris Dent at Extra Cover: 109-5 in the 35^th over. He then bowled a beautiful delivery that pitched middle and bowled middle and off: 118-6 in the 39^th over. Coughlin swept Zafar. The ball went high into the Deep Mid-Wicket area where David Payne ran in and took a comfortable catch: 124-7 and Durham subsiding. In came Trevaskis, who swept massively, first ball and sent the ball high to George Scott at Deep Square Leg: 125-8 and two in three balls for Zafar. More sweeps and then Potts pushed Graeme van Buuren straight back to the bowler: 140-9. Raine then came down the pitch to Zafar and chipped tamely to David Payne at Point: 140ao and Durham had lost 8 wickets for 68 from 72-2 and their last five wickets for 22

It took just five balls for Rushworth to hit back. Chris Dent edged very low to Borthwick’s left and was beautifully taken. Gloucestershire 0-1. However, Miles Hammond and James Bracey batted nicely and, at 21-1 after 5 overs, on came Slow Left Armer Trevaskis, very much an occasional red-ball bowler this season. James Bracey, who looked in excellent form, greeted him with a splendid Cover Drive for four. Meanwhile, at Chelmsford, Essex had bowled out Northamptonshire cheaply and were closing in on the Division 2 title. Miles Hammond tried to hit Trevaskis over the top and, having not got hold of the ball properly, perished to a catch by Potts, who was just tall enough to reach it: 30-2 in the 10^th over. James Bracey had reached 27, batting beautifully, but left disastrously the last ball before Tea and was judged LBW to Rushworth: 42-3 at Tea and not looking so healthy for the Shire.

Up came the 50 with the last ball of the eighteenth over, with the Shire needing a partnership to ensure a first innings lead. Tom Lace and Graeme van Buuren supplied it, adding 51 in 17.4 overs. On came Borthwick for the 28^th over and van Buuren on-drove him imperiously to the boundary. 81-3 at the end of the over and the batsmen getting on top but, could they stay there? Coughlin bowled down leg, Tom Lace tried to flick the ball, it glanced off the pad and went between the wicket-keeper’s legs for four leg byes. After 32 overs it was 93-3, just 47 behind and Durham needed a wicket desperately. Trevaskis provided it in the next over, in which he had had Tom Lace in trouble and got his man LBW. So, in came George Scott. At the other end, Graeme van Buuren took Borthwick to task, taking eleven off Borthwick’s fifth over, starting with consecutive boundaries and a two that took him to 50 (60 balls, 8x4). The score started to advance rapidly. At 127-4 in the 42^nd over, the deficit was just 13. Had he been able to continue in this vein to the Close, Durham’s position would have been desperate. Raine, though, ended his innings, bowling him for 62.

George Scott and Ryan Higgins set out to carry the innings through to the Close. A boundary for George Scott off Raine took the Shire into the lead. With the batsmen shutting up shop for the night, four overs produced just a single. Gloucestershire had lost a wicket to the last ball before Tea, they now lost one to the last ball of the day. As Lady Bracknell might have said: “to lose one wicket to the last ball of a session is unfortunate, to lose two smacks of carelessness!” Higgins bowled by Trevaskis for 10 and the score 146-6 at the Close, the lead just 6.

Gloucestershire need to increase the lead in the morning and to get at least one batting point. A lead of 60 would be worth triple that on a normal Bristol pitch.

Day 2:

So, the season ends positively with an eighth win and for the second week running a side narrowly escaped an innings defeat. Gloucestershire will finish second in Division 2 and thus ranked 8^th in the country, which most fans would have settled for before the season started.

Bright sunshine and blue skies to greet the players. Two Slips very close and a Short Leg to Ollie Price, who was beaten three times in the first five balls as Trevaskis turned the ball away from him. To put the pitch in context, Tresvaskis had taken just 10 First Class wickets at 61 apiece in thirteen matches before this one and had already taken three wickets in an innings for the first time. He did rapidly and inevitably for Ollie Price, who finally did hit one, edging straight to Second Slip: 148-7. In came Tom Price, taking a Leg Stump guard and could easily have fallen first ball to an edge that ballooned over the Slips. How many could the tail increase that lead? George Scott turned a single to leg to bring the lead up to 10: everything indicated that the lower order was going to try to grind it out, as they had against Glamorgan.

It took Tom Price the best part of half an hour to get off the mark, which he did with consecutive Cover Drives for two and for four off Rushworth who, hitherto, had been conceding less than a run per over. An edge that was a difficult chance to Trevaskis went for four, taking Tom Price to 10 and the lead to 23. Then Tom Price cut him between the two Slips, who were both standing very close, for another boundary, taking the lead up to 30; it was starting to become really useful now. George Scott then glanced Rushworth for another boundary: more runs had come in twelve balls than in the previous forty minutes of graft.

By now the news had come through that Essex, despite scoring only 170, had won by an innings and 44 – interesting pitch that one.

Finally, Trevaskis got one through Tom Price and and was rewarded with an LBW and a 5-for. Price out for a valuable 16: 174-8. Rushworth then pinned George Scott LBW for 21. It was 174-9 and the end was nigh. Zafar, though, did not plan to die wondering and hammered Trevaskis, first back over his head and then through Cover for consecutive boundaries, taking the lead past 40. He then hit consecutive boundaries off Coughlin, before being dropped badly in the deep next ball: 194-9 and the lead now 54. Back came Trevaskis into the attack and David Payne ran out to him and clipped him beautifully to the Square Leg boundary, the Shire now on the cusp of a batting point. A reverse sweep brought up the 200 and the batting point and yet another misfield – of which there had been a number in the last 15 minutes – allowed him another couple. Zafar hammered Couglin back over his head for four more and then tried an outrageous reverse pull shot and got hit by the ball. The lead was now 68 and Durham heads were dropping visibly.

David Payne added a straight drive for four and the partnership had reached 42 in 39 balls. Finally Zafar tried one shot too many and was caught at Deep Square Leg for 30, having added 44 in 45 balls with David Payne for the last wicket. 218ao. The lead 78. And four overs to face before Lunch.

As in the first innings, Durham started positively against David Payne and Ryan Higgins. 17-0 at Lunch, 61 behind. The batsmen having no difficulties against the New Ball.

Zafar came on immediately after Lunch and took Lees, LBW, with the first ball of his second over. Durham 22-1. He thought that he had Jones too in his next over as the opener jammed down on a floated up delivery and James Bracey claimed a reaction catch behind: the umpire ruled that there was no bat involved. What Durham did not need in these circumstances was a suicidal runout. Jones tried to flick David Payne, the ball went to Short Fine Leg as the batsman advanced half way down the pitch. James Bracey chased, took off a glove, threw and ran out the batsman by a distance as his dead-eyed throw cartwheeled the Off Stump: 30-2, still 48 behind. That became 30-3 immediately when Borthwick tried to play Zafar to leg, next ball, missed completely and was pinned in front. The cheekier local supporters were starting to think of the innings victory.

Back came Ryan Higgins and was cut for four by Eckersley first ball. The second was a perfect line and length and edged to James Bracey. The score was now 39-4, 39 more needed to avoid the innings defeat. It should have been 42-5 as Bedingham edged Ryan Higgins very low to James Bracey’s right: the ‘keeper took a brilliant catch, only to see the umpire’s outstretched arm for a No Ball. It was not costly: Zafar trapped him LBW to make the score 49-5. The Durham 50 came up when Clark edged Higgins just short of the diving Bracey and the ball skid away to the boundary.

Couglin tried to remove some close fielders by attacking Zafar, but only found Graeme van Buuren at Extra Cover: 59-6, Zafar 13-6-18-4. There was a small rush of runs as batsmen tried to take scoring chances where available before Clark missed a straight one from Zafar and was bowled: 71-7, still 7 behind. Zafar now with 5-25. A pull to leg by Raine off Ollie Price, finally given a chance to show what he could do in helpful conditions, brought the scores level, ensuring that Gloucestershire had to bat again. After this nervous first over, his second was much better and had Raine playing and missing.

85-7 at Tea, the lead 7. Surely Gloucestershire would wrap this up in the final session?

Initially, it was plain sailing. The light faded rapidly, but with Zafar bowling and two spinners available play could continue. Zafar made the breakthrough when Trevaskis swept powerfully (and painfully) into Tom Lace’s helmet at Short Leg and James Bracey took the re-bound with Lace prostrate on the ground: 87-8, Zafar 6-33. Tom Lace eventually got up and hobbled round to Short Leg for the new batsman, earning a loud round of applause.

Briefly Raine and Potts raised Durham hopes with a stand of 38 in ten overs. Initially runs came at a trickle but, later, Raine started to tuck in, first to Zafar and then into Ryan Higgins. When the lead reached 50, James Bracey brought on Graeme van Buuren to try to restore some order before dark imaginings raised themselves  of a difficult chase. It took him just five balls to end the troublesome ninth wicket stand, removing Potts LBW, pushing forward: 125-9.  Just four balls into his second over he bowled Rushworth, who swung wildly across the line, to give him a spell of 1.4-0-1-2!! Durham 131ao, a lead of 53.

The danger in a chase of 54 was of poking around and losing several quick wickets. Chris Dent and Miles Hammond decided to be positive. Chris Dent drove the second ball of the innings straight past the bowler to the boundary. Trevaskis was given the New Ball at the other end and was roughly dealt with by the same batsman, who despatched his third ball for a lofted four over Long On and the fourth for another through the Covers: 12 off the over, 19-0 from two overs. Miles Hammond joined the party, crashing Rushworth over wide Long On for six: 25-0 and a real nerve-settler of a start. Another Cover Drive from Chris Dent off Trevaskis who then bowled a delivery down leg that beat everything and went for four byes: 33-0 from 4 overs. When Miles Hammond drove Rushworth through Mid-Off for a boundary from the first ball of the fifth over the Shire were racing to their target.

Such profligacy could not last. Rushworth hit Miles Hammond painfully amidships and Chris Dent wandered down the pitch to pat down something and give his partner a few seconds to recover. The next ball Hammond tried to launch into Somerset and only succeeded in edging it into orbit, the ball finally being caught by the wicket-keeper, behind the batsman. James Bracey swept Trevaskis to the boundary to open his account and bring the runs needed down to 12. Rushworth was still charging in, believing in the miracle. He caught Chris Dent on the crease and had him judged LBW for 22: 42-2, 12 needed. Zafar was sent out to finish the game off quickly. He swept Trevaskis hard, third ball and was taken brilliantly by Lees at Square Leg for a duck: 45-3. Enough messing around. Out came Tom Lace. Eight off the next Rushworth over, including a Cover Drive for four by James Bracey brought the scores level. A push into the Covers. A quick single and James Bracey had scored the winning run. The final margin, seven wickets.

An eighth win in the season for the Shire. The only side to win more than half their games. Second place in Division 2 and a final ranking of eighth: not a bad haul for the season. This Gloucestershire could really make some waves next season if Zafar Gohar can somehow be convinced to stay.  

Day 2:

So, the season ends positively with an eighth win and for the second week running a side narrowly escaped an innings defeat. Gloucestershire will finish second in Division 2 and thus ranked 8^th in the country, which most fans would have settled for before the season started.

Bright sunshine and blue skies to greet the players. Two Slips very close and a Short Leg to Ollie Price, who was beaten three times in the first five balls as Trevaskis turned the ball away from him. To put the pitch in context, Tresvaskis had taken just 10 First Class wickets at 61 apiece in thirteen matches before this one and had already taken three wickets in an innings for the first time. He did rapidly and inevitably for Ollie Price, who finally did hit one, edging straight to Second Slip: 148-7. In came Tom Price, taking a Leg Stump guard and could easily have fallen first ball to an edge that ballooned over the Slips. How many could the tail increase that lead? George Scott turned a single to leg to bring the lead up to 10: everything indicated that the lower order was going to try to grind it out, as they had against Glamorgan.

It took Tom Price the best part of half an hour to get off the mark, which he did with consecutive Cover Drives for two and for four off Rushworth who, hitherto, had been conceding less than a run per over. An edge that was a difficult chance to Trevaskis went for four, taking Tom Price to 10 and the lead to 23. Then Tom Price cut him between the two Slips, who were both standing very close, for another boundary, taking the lead up to 30; it was starting to become really useful now. George Scott then glanced Rushworth for another boundary: more runs had come in twelve balls than in the previous forty minutes of graft.

By now the news had come through that Essex, despite scoring only 170, had won by an innings and 44 – interesting pitch that one.

Finally, Trevaskis got one through Tom Price and and was rewarded with an LBW and a 5-for. Price out for a valuable 16: 174-8. Rushworth then pinned George Scott LBW for 21. It was 174-9 and the end was nigh. Zafar, though, did not plan to die wondering and hammered Trevaskis, first back over his head and then through Cover for consecutive boundaries, taking the lead past 40. He then hit consecutive boundaries off Coughlin, before being dropped badly in the deep next ball: 194-9 and the lead now 54. Back came Trevaskis into the attack and David Payne ran out to him and clipped him beautifully to the Square Leg boundary, the Shire now on the cusp of a batting point. A reverse sweep brought up the 200 and the batting point and yet another misfield – of which there had been a number in the last 15 minutes – allowed him another couple. Zafar hammered Couglin back over his head for four more and then tried an outrageous reverse pull shot and got hit by the ball. The lead was now 68 and Durham heads were dropping visibly.

David Payne added a straight drive for four and the partnership had reached 42 in 39 balls. Finally Zafar tried one shot too many and was caught at Deep Square Leg for 30, having added 44 in 45 balls with David Payne for the last wicket. 218ao. The lead 78. And four overs to face before Lunch.

As in the first innings, Durham started positively against David Payne and Ryan Higgins. 17-0 at Lunch, 61 behind. The batsmen having no difficulties against the New Ball.

Zafar came on immediately after Lunch and took Lees, LBW, with the first ball of his second over. Durham 22-1. He thought that he had Jones too in his next over as the opener jammed down on a floated up delivery and James Bracey claimed a reaction catch behind: the umpire ruled that there was no bat involved. What Durham did not need in these circumstances was a suicidal runout. Jones tried to flick David Payne, the ball went to Short Fine Leg as the batsman advanced half way down the pitch. James Bracey chased, took off a glove, threw and ran out the batsman by a distance as his dead-eyed throw cartwheeled the Off Stump: 30-2, still 48 behind. That became 30-3 immediately when Borthwick tried to play Zafar to leg, next ball, missed completely and was pinned in front. The cheekier local supporters were starting to think of the innings victory.

Back came Ryan Higgins and was cut for four by Eckersley first ball. The second was a perfect line and length and edged to James Bracey. The score was now 39-4, 39 more needed to avoid the innings defeat. It should have been 42-5 as Bedingham edged Ryan Higgins very low to James Bracey’s right: the ‘keeper took a brilliant catch, only to see the umpire’s outstretched arm for a No Ball. It was not costly: Zafar trapped him LBW to make the score 49-5. The Durham 50 came up when Clark edged Higgins just short of the diving Bracey and the ball skid away to the boundary.

Couglin tried to remove some close fielders by attacking Zafar, but only found Graeme van Buuren at Extra Cover: 59-6, Zafar 13-6-18-4. There was a small rush of runs as batsmen tried to take scoring chances where available before Clark missed a straight one from Zafar and was bowled: 71-7, still 7 behind. Zafar now with 5-25. A pull to leg by Raine off Ollie Price, finally given a chance to show what he could do in helpful conditions, brought the scores level, ensuring that Gloucestershire had to bat again. After this nervous first over, his second was much better and had Raine playing and missing.

85-7 at Tea, the lead 7. Surely Gloucestershire would wrap this up in the final session?

Initially, it was plain sailing. The light faded rapidly, but with Zafar bowling and two spinners available play could continue. Zafar made the breakthrough when Trevaskis swept powerfully (and painfully) into Tom Lace’s helmet at Short Leg and James Bracey took the re-bound with Lace prostrate on the ground: 87-8, Zafar 6-33. Tom Lace eventually got up and hobbled round to Short Leg for the new batsman, earning a loud round of applause.

Briefly Raine and Potts raised Durham hopes with a stand of 38 in ten overs. Initially runs came at a trickle but, later, Raine started to tuck in, first to Zafar and then into Ryan Higgins. When the lead reached 50, James Bracey brought on Graeme van Buuren to try to restore some order before dark imaginings raised themselves  of a difficult chase. It took him just five balls to end the troublesome ninth wicket stand, removing Potts LBW, pushing forward: 125-9.  Just four balls into his second over he bowled Rushworth, who swung wildly across the line, to give him a spell of 1.4-0-1-2!! Durham 131ao, a lead of 53.

The danger in a chase of 54 was of poking around and losing several quick wickets. Chris Dent and Miles Hammond decided to be positive. Chris Dent drove the second ball of the innings straight past the bowler to the boundary. Trevaskis was given the New Ball at the other end and was roughly dealt with by the same batsman, who despatched his third ball for a lofted four over Long On and the fourth for another through the Covers: 12 off the over, 19-0 from two overs. Miles Hammond joined the party, crashing Rushworth over wide Long On for six: 25-0 and a real nerve-settler of a start. Another Cover Drive from Chris Dent off Trevaskis who then bowled a delivery down leg that beat everything and went for four byes: 33-0 from 4 overs. When Miles Hammond drove Rushworth through Mid-Off for a boundary from the first ball of the fifth over the Shire were racing to their target.

Such profligacy could not last. Rushworth hit Miles Hammond painfully amidships and Chris Dent wandered down the pitch to pat down something and give his partner a few seconds to recover. The next ball Hammond tried to launch into Somerset and only succeeded in edging it into orbit, the ball finally being caught by the wicket-keeper, behind the batsman. James Bracey swept Trevaskis to the boundary to open his account and bring the runs needed down to 12. Rushworth was still charging in, believing in the miracle. He caught Chris Dent on the crease and had him judged LBW for 22: 42-2, 12 needed. Zafar was sent out to finish the game off quickly. He swept Trevaskis hard, third ball and was taken brilliantly by Lees at Square Leg for a duck: 45-3. Enough messing around. Out came Tom Lace. Eight off the next Rushworth over, including a Cover Drive for four by James Bracey brought the scores level. A push into the Covers. A quick single and James Bracey had scored the winning run. The final margin, seven wickets.

An eighth win in the season for the Shire. The only side to win more than half their games. Second place in Division 2 and a final ranking of eighth: not a bad haul for the season. This Gloucestershire could really make some waves next season if Zafar Gohar can somehow be convinced to stay.