County Championship Round 9: Durham v Gloucestershire

  

County Championship Round 9

Durham v Gloucestershire

Preview

With just five games left after this one, Gloucestershire take on the toughest challenge by far of the season, playing runaway leaders, Durham, at the beautiful Chester-le-Street ground.

Although they are only thirty-five points away from the promotion places, a gap that would close rapidly with a couple of wins, the fact that the team immediately above, 8 points ahead, in 7^th (Yorkshire) and Derbyshire, 9 points behind, in 9^th, both have a game in hand makes the wooden spoon a far more immediate prospect than challenging at the top of the table.

The side takes on Durham knowing that Marcus Harris, who has not been needed yet by Australia, will not return after the Ashes as he has to return to Australia for family reasons when the series ends.

Meanwhile, the injury crisis that has been a permanent feature of recent seasons means a substantial change of personnel for this game.

Graeme van Buuren strained his side against Hampshire in the Blast and so James Bracey will lead the team again. Tom Price, who has not looked fully fit in the last two games, has some stiffness in the back: officially, he is rested but, in practice the aim is to have him fully fit and available to play the two games at Cheltenham. Ajeet Dale continues to have problems with his knee and David Payne is still being nursed slowly back after his ankle surgery.

Finally, Joe Phillips returns to the 2^nd XI. Bowlers, Dom Goodman, and Paul van Meekeren are added to the squad, with Jack Taylor replacing Graeme van Buuren.

Probably Paul van Meekeren and either Josh Shaw or Dom Goodman will be the players to miss out. After the huge impact that Dom Goodman made in his debut, in 2021, supporters will be interested to see how he goes after a very quiet 2022.

Durham are not without their problems either, having had to sign a sixth bowler for the season (debut for Migael Pretorius), although Matthew Potts is available, having been released by England. If the New Ball attack can be seen off, the change bowlers are, as for Gloucestershire, less experienced.

Day 1

With rain pushing in from the west, there was every likelihood of a truncated day. James Bracey won the Toss and decided to bat. The surprise was that both Josh Shaw and Dom Goodman played, with Jack Taylor missing out. This put Zafar at 7 and left Gloucestershire with a very long tail, starting (if the scorecard could be believed) with Zaman Ahktar, a Championship debutant in the first fixture against Durham, at #8 – he may want to frame that scorecard!

An opening attack of Matthew Potts and Ben Raine is not to be despised. Ben Charlesworth and Chris Dent faced it in bright sunshine, on what looked like an excellent pitch with a very short boundary towards the pavilion, knowing that they had to see off the New Ball and make good use of the pitch. Briefly, Charlesworth looked in decent form, taking a brace of fours from the last two balls of the third over. Chris Dent added another in Raine’s next over, guiding the ball through Point. That made it 19-0 from 6 overs, just two of them off the bowling of Potts, but a promising start. However, it did not last: Charlesworth tried to clip the first ball of the eighth over off his legs and got a leading edge to Matt Parkinson at Mid-On: 23-1 and Matthew Potts with the breakthrough. This brought Ollie Price in at 3. With a long tail, a century and a fifty from the top three were high on the wish list, particularly with Durham’s batting setting huge first innings totals all season.

Chris Dent hit a lovely boundary through Mid-wicket but was lucky to survive next ball when his edge dropped just short of Slip. However, the 50 came up in the seventeenth over, with the change bowlers now on, although, in a sign of things to come, the sun had hidden behind some grey clouds and the wind was picking up. Back came Ben Raine to break the partnership and Chris Dent clipped the ball gently to leg, watching it race away to the boundary. The batsman was probably not displeased to see a lot of the bowling aimed at his legs and took full advantage.

Gloucestershire were making seemingly serene progress to Lunch, the sun out again, Dent into the 40s and Price in the 20s, with the former batting as well as he has all season. Debutant Migael Pretorius gave Ollie Price a very wide one that he flung his bat at and could only edge through to Second Slip. It was not a good shot to play with an over to the break, ending a nice partnership of 66 that threatened to set the foundation for a good total. 89-2 and a danger that the hard work could be undone unless someone could bed-in for a big score. That will hopefully be Chris Dent, who hooked Ben Raine for an easy single and saw the return throw pass under the ‘keeper’s gloves and run for four byes to take him to 49*. 94-2 at the break.

On the return, Chris Dent wasted no time in tucking the single square to get his fifty in 88 balls (5x4). Miles Hammond then guided the ball through Third Man to score the boundary that brought up the hundred. It’s an odd, psychological thing, but 101-2 always looks much better than 94-2! Miles Hammond continued to go for his shots, as he has done in recent games and flayed a slightly overpitched ball through the Covers for another boundary. Chris Dent took his cue from that and hammered a hook to the short boundary. By this time there was rain in Cardiff, Taunton, Worcester and, naturally, at Blackpool, so you wondered how long it would be before it would reach the far north. The gathering cloud, though, was not upsetting the batsmen: another imperious drive through the Covers brough Miles Hammond another boundary. 124-2 and sixteen runs had come from the last seven legitimate deliveries. A couple of quiet overs and Miles Hammond took three boundaries in a Pretorius over to reach 32 from 30 balls, looking in supreme form.

With the light getting distinctly gloomy, on came Matt Parkinson to bowl his leggies with Durham needing a wicket and the floodlights flickering on. It led to a bizarre shot with Chris Dent chipping the ball over bowler into no man’s land for two as if playing a delicate pitching wedge onto the green. Miles Hammond showed him how it is done by dancing down the pitch twice for consecutive sixes: the first back over the bowler, the second over Extra Cover. That brought up the 150 in the 41^st over. After an exchange of singles, a horrible leg-side full toss was sent through Mid-wicket for the four to bring his 50 in 43 balls (8x4, 2x6) and take it up to eighteen off the over. Watching so many shots, the Baz-word was coming to mind.

With the batsmen right on top, another hour like this could have had Durham in dire straits. Unfortunately, Hammond went after Parkinson again, did not get properly to the ball and Scott Borthwick dived and hung on at Short Mid-wicket. Miles Hammond was unfortunate to fall to a superb catch, but the whispers will be that, once again, he passed fifty but did not convert. 170-3 and thoughts of 350 or 400 receding. Even so, Chris Dent was batting probably better than any time so far in the season. The 200 came up in the 52^nd over and it was a surprise when he departed three balls afterwards. Jaffa in the channel from Potts, edged through to the ‘keeper and Dent out for 85: 200-4.

Grant Roelofsen was still there and, for the second time in the day, a piece of enthusiastic fielding led to a five as the batsmen took a quick single. The throw missed the stumps and the desperate dives of two outfielders as it rocketed to the boundary. Thanks in part to them, twenty-one had come from three overs and, again, a dangerous partnership was forming: 36 from 37 balls. This time, though, it was the last two recognised batsmen, and it was essential that it continued. Durham were starting to get a little sloppy in the field with consecutive balls seeing first an overthrow from a wild shy and then a bad misfield that allowed a push by Bracey to go for extra runs. Durham had leaked a surprising number of runs from overthrows and misfields throughout the day, which they could regret later. The 250, the first batting point and the 50 partnership (from 56 balls) came up in the sixty-second over. Could the batsmen push on? Matt Parkinson served up a filthy full toss, Roelofsen missed a cross-batted swipe and was bowled: 256-5. Parkinson could not believe his luck. Grant Roelofsen out for 42 (58 balls, 5x4). Again, a wicket to a poor shot, just before an interval, with the batsmen right on top. 259-5 at Tea.

During Tea, the threatened rain arrived, and the covers came on. About twenty minutes were lost.

No sooner had the players come back out when James Bracey offered an expansive drive to Parkinson and was bowled through the gate by a ball that turned considerably. 261-6. Bracey, 26 and only the bowlers to come.

What had looked like an excellent pitch earlier, started to show signs that it might behave less reliably. Zafar ducked a short ball only to see it barely rise – not the first time that it had happened – and the odd ball was turning now for the spinners. It was coming down a matter of how many the tail could make, particularly with the New Ball approaching. Josh Shaw has shown that he is capable with the bat but was in far too high at #8 (Zaman Ahktar would still have the scorecard showing him at #8 as a souvenir), although he and Zafar organised themselves capably, taking plenty of singles and rotating the strike. Shaw even lobbed Parkinson back over the bowler’s head much as Chris Dent had earlier, but more successfully, earning a boundary. It had become dark again, light rain started to fall and that was the day that was… 280-6. Five overs to the New Ball and twenty needed for the second batting point that must be the absolute minimum that Gloucestershire want.

Day 2

What would Gloucestershire accept? There were suggestions late on Day 1 that perhaps the pitch was not quite as perfect as we thought. Could the tail add 50 more and perhaps get up to 330? Let’s put that in context. So far this season, the Durham first innings totals have been:

376ao, 425-9d, 471-9d, 452-9d, 227, 445ao, 630ao and 517-6d

So, maybe even 330 might not be enough… But, for now, a fairly cloudy sky with a little blue, but some heavy showers promised later in the day.

This season, games against Durham have been Christians v Lions. Today, the show was at the Chester-le-Street Coliseum. And Gloucestershire were given the role of the Christians. However, as Russell Crowe showed in “Gladiator”, sometimes the underdog could escape with his skin and, although it will be an uphill struggle over the last two days, a dogged performance has avoided having a mountain to climb instead.

Things started well. Three boundaries for Zafar off Carse’s first over of the day, including a superb uppercut. Then Josh Shaw launched the first ball of Matt Parkinson’s second over for six over Long On: that was the 300 and second batting point up in double quick time. It was too good to last. Carse dropped one a bit short at Josh Shaw, who tried to help it down to Fine Leg, but only managed to deflect the ball to the ‘keeper. 302-7. Shaw 16. Carse then bounced Matt Taylor, who also nicked the ball to the ‘keeper. Two in two and Carse on a hat trick. Zaman Ahktar avoided it, but nearly fell in the same way as Josh Shaw to his second ball. Next ball, also short. Zaman missed it. The ‘keeper missed it, and it flew through for four byes,

Gloucestershire were scoring at 4-an-over and the game was advancing at a tremendous pace. The New Ball was taken immediately by Carse, and the first ball with it castled Zafar, hitting middle and off. Zafar 34, Gloucestershire 316-9. Dom Goodman survived one ball, missed the second and was adjudged LBW. 316ao. From 256-4, the last 6 wickets had fallen for 60. Not ideal.

Matt Taylor and Josh Shaw with the New Ball. And the “blink and you’ll miss it” cricket continued. Seven runs for the first four deliveries, including a cut for four by Michael Jones that just avoided Gulley. However, Jones lasted just three balls of the second over as Josh Shaw fired in a quick, straight one and got him LBW. 10-1 and we were just 9 balls into the innings. Josh Shaw’s second over was less successful; it started 4 4 4 2 and was typical of the opening exchanges. Leather was flying and Durham were scoring at better than a run a ball. The 50 came up in the 10^th over, with Zaman Ahktar on to try to wrest back some control. Martin Emerson thought that Gloucestershire had left some runs out there: with 85 overs still to come in the day, everything suggested that Durham might be well ahead come the Close today: it would prove to be a sound prediction.

Back came Josh Shaw for a second spell and, this time, was less expensive. He also saw how Scott Borthwick tried to hit him over the short pavilion boundary, miscued and Jack Taylor took a comfortable catch on the boundary. 77-2 in the 17^th over. Shaw with 2-25 from 5.3 overs and very nearly 3-25 from 5.4 as new batsman, David Bedingham, tried a glance first ball and the close fielders all went up loudly for a catch.

Alex Lees reached his 50 (56 balls, 8x4) with a single off Zafar and celebrated by taking a brace of boundaries later in the over. Ten off Zafar’s first over and he must have been thinking something on the lines of “here we go again”. It was a double change, with Dom Goodman coming in at the other end and being greeted with the obligatory boundary. The 100 came up in the 22^nd over with a single swept to Fine Leg off Zafar, but you could say that, after a difficult start, Gloucestershire were wresting back some control. With three balls left before Lunch, Dom Goodman dropped in a short ball, David Bedingham hooked and watched the ball go straight to Matt Taylor. 101-3 and Lunch, which must have tasted far better than the bowlers could have hoped three quarters of an hour before.

For the super-optimists, Durham still need 65 to avoid the follow-on! Get Alex Lees quickly after Lunch and that 316ao may look a long way away.

A wicket did fall quickly, but it was Ollie Robinson, chipping a low catch back to Dom Goodman, who did well to get down to it. 109-4, Robinson 7 and Dom Goodman with 2-14.

Although there was no more success for the bowlers, they kept the lid on the scoring very successfully, with plenty of men on the boundary to cut off the fours. Durham were forced to re-build and needed a partnership. Alex Lees and Graham Clark were determined to provide one. Up came the 150 in the 37^th over and Durham slowly getting back on top but scoring mainly in singles. Lees was the main problem and a boundary cracked straight back down the ground, past Matt Taylor, brought up the 50 partnership in 84 balls. The follow-on was, saved and ominously, Alex Lees was in the 90s and looking in no difficulty. Up came Lees’ century with an imperious drive off Zafar, from 120 balls with 13x4 and he took a boundary next ball too to celebrate. After two centuries in the previous match against Leicestershire, this was his third consecutive ton.

Suddenly, the floodgates were opening again. The 200 came up in the 47^th over, the stand was closing on 100 and Gloucestershire urgently needed a wicket. The century stand came up, followed by the Clark 50. 242-4 (Lees 137*, Clark 57*) from 55 overs at Tea and Gloucestershire’s promising position just after Lunch had turned into an increasingly difficult one.

After Tea, the grinding-down of the bowlers continued. Three consecutive boundaries from a Zaman Ahktar over took Lees to 150 from 163 balls but, mostly, it was taking singles as they wanted, with Durham looking at a total well north of 450 with maximum batting points. It was a relief when, finally, the rain arrived and, at 280-4, everyone retreated to the pavilion. The happiest person on the pitch was, undoubtedly, Josh Shaw who had just been tossed the ball and had marked out his run-up with the enthusiasm of a condemned man walking to the gallows. The interruption was brief. The sun was quickly back out and after the rope was dragged round, the covers went off and just 4 overs were lost.

Ollie Price had been tried and, for once, had left his Superman cape behind so, with the New Ball approaching, Ben Charlesworth was called up to try his luck. It took him just five balls to break the stand. Clark tried to thump him to the short boundary and picked out Chris Dent perfectly at Mid-wicket. Another Durham batsman had given away his wicket but, this time, with 82 to his name. 304-5, the partnership of 192 had transformed the game and Alex Lees still there on 172* and threatening to take the game away from Gloucestershire.

In came Brydon Carse. Ben Charlesworth dropped short, and the batsman swivelled and swatted him away for six. That took the scores level. In no time Carse had 16 from 13 balls and the lead was starting to grow far too quickly for comfort. The 350 and third batting point came up in the 78^th over with a Lees six as his double century started to look inevitable. A sign of the situation was Chris Dent coming on to bowl some very gentle medium pace to hasten the New Ball. Lees treated him with respect but pushed the single off him to bring up another 50 partnership.

On came Matt Taylor. Little could he imagine that after an afternoon of toil, he would find himself immediately on a hattrick. Out came the New Ball. His first ball was straight. Lees missed it and ran a leg bye only to look up and see the raised finger. Alex Lees finally out for 195. A monumental innings and a second bowling point at last for the Shire. Second ball, Ben Raine flashed, edged and James Bracey scooped up a low catch that just barely reached him. Raine was very unhappy and, initially refused to walk, but the scoreboard said 359-7 and he had to go. Suddenly, two New Ball deliveries had changed the game. Hattrick ball. Two Slips the only close fielders. Pretorius drove it through the Covers for four.

As you were! In no time Pretorius had 22 from 14 balls and Carse 34 from 36. The 400 was approaching like an express train. Again, a wicket was needed urgently and almost came when Carse edged Matt Taylor agonisingly close to Slip, but Ollie Price could not quite reach it. The 400 came up as Carse took advantage of his escape and went after Josh Shaw, slogging a boundary and then a huge six from consecutive balls. After brief relief, the bowlers were under the cosh… again: just the sixteen from the over. Carse’s 50 came up from 45 balls.

Martin Emerson was in raptures in the commentary box. James Bracey probably did not share his enthusiasm. Up came the hundred lead with more than three overs to the Close. Would Durham play for the Close? No, they would not. Carse essayed a big drive off Dom Goodman and the stumps were demolished off an inside edge. 432-8 and Gloucestershire just a wicket from full bowling points.

433-8 at the Close with Carse on 60*. Gloucestershire will want to knock over the #10 and 11 quickly in the morning to avoid the lead getting any bigger.

 Day 3

Covers on, but only a short delay. 11:15 start. 4 overs lost. 100 to play. Bursts of bright sunshine at the start, but some ominous clouds encroaching on the blue sky. Storm clouds threatening. It was an omen.

The breech between the Division 2 haves and have nots was all too visible yesterday. Both sides have an injury crisis but Durham, with their resources, continue to be a powerhouse. It is great to see them back where they belong after years of penury, but could Gloucestershire stop the Durham juggernaut, or at least, slow its progress to the Division 2 title? What no one could have anticipated, after just eighteen wickets had fallen in the first two days that Gloucestershire would be facing an imminent innings defeat within half an hour of Lunch. That it was avoided was thanks to Miles Hammond and Matt Taylor, but the game was still over with the best part of four sessions to play.

And the day had begun so well.

Durham 117 ahead with Brydon Carse set on 60* and the 5^th batting point beckoning. Matt Taylor and Zaman Ahktar with a still fairly new ball. It took just 18 deliveries for Gloucestershire to add the third bowling point. Matt Taylor took his 200^th First Class wicket, bowling Brydon Carse comprehensively for 62 with the last ball of the third over of the day. 437-9 and a good start for Gloucestershire. Meanwhile, despite the bright sunshine, the sky was getting rapidly blacker, although the heavy rain missed the ground passing just north. With plenty of time available, Durham were content to take the singles and advance slowly on the 450 until Matthew Potts cracked a boundary to take the score to 448 and, when Will Goodman came on for Zaman Ahktar, Potts launched the ball through Mid-wicket to bring up the fifth batting point. That, though, was that. The 450 up, Matthew Potts tried a pull from Dom Goodman’s fifth ball and holed-out to Zafar on the boundary.

453ao and career best figures of 4-73 for Dom Goodman. 137 the lead. How many wickets would Gloucestershire lose in knocking-off the deficit?

Out came Ben Charlesworth and Chris Dent and down came the rain before a ball could be bowled. Quickly, it turned into a heavy shower and puddles formed on the covers so the umpires, sensibly, called for an early lunch.

A quiet first over gave no hint of the mayhem to come on a pitch livened-up by rain. It started in the second over. Matthew Potts sent his second ball through Ben Charlesworth’s push and watched the stumps explode. 1-1. Ollie Price missed another straight one and his Off Stump cartwheeled: 7-2. Chris Dent survived twelve balls before Potts bowled him too: 10-3 and the possibility of an innings defeat before Tea staring the batsmen in the face. It got worse… Grant Roelofsen hit a glorious straight drive for four. Was this the start of a fightback? No, the next ball was edged to the ‘keeper, who took the ball in front of 1^st Slip: 24-4 and Potts on 4-17. It could have been worse still. Miles Hammond was badly dropped at 1^st Slip, which would have made the score 24-5 in the nineth over. However, with change bowlers having to come on in the end, batting got a little easier and the 50 came up in the eighteenth over with a No Ball.

Just as it seemed that the storm had been weathered, Pretorius served up a ball in about 7^th stump, Bracey drove, edged and Ollie Robinson took a superb, low catch, just in front of 1^st Slip. 63-5 and any faint hope of taking the match into the last day had gone. James Bracey had made 15. Miles Hammond almost followed him two balls later with a Chinese Cut that just missed leg stump. However, he was still there, fighting, on 27*.

With Tea just two minutes away, Matt Parkinson bowled a full toss. Zafar went for it and top-edged the ball to Mid-On. 93-6. 44 behind still. Hammond, who had been dropped on 6, 39*.

Now would be a great time for Josh Shaw’s maiden First Class century. Unfortunately, it was not to be. Miles Hammond left him to face the last three balls of a Carse over: two was enough, the second of them being turned straight to Forward Square Leg. 98-7 and the fat lady warming up.

Miles Hammond reached his fifth fifty of the season from 82 balls out of 108-7. However desperate the situation, he was going to hit the ball if there to hit. Matthew Potts served him up a leg side short ball that was hooked imperiously over Square Leg for six. He followed it with an imperious Cover Drive for four. At the other end Matt Parkinson had five men around the bat for Matt Taylor. Two runs down to Deep Square Leg put Gloucestershire ahead but, with 34 overs still to bat, the chances of the game entering a fourth day were remote indeed. A boundary and a two for Matt Taylor brought up the 150 and the 50 partnership, with Hammond now 73*. Matt Taylor was proving a solid foil and, had they continued for another hour, something might have been rescued from the wreckage of the innings. When Matt Taylor pulled Ben Raine to Fine Leg and Alex Lees pouched the catch, he sank to his knees in jubilation knowing that the last real obstacle to a Durham win had been removed. 160-8, the lead 24. Matt Taylor 22.

Miles Hammond moved into the eighties but did not try to farm the strike. Often singles were taken early in the over, or even last ball when Zaman Ahktar was on strike. The result was inevitable. Finally, Zaman faced one ball too many and edged a bat-pad to Silly Point. 180-9, the lead 43. Could Dom Goodman see Miles Hammond to his century? The answer was “no”. Hammond tried to pull Carse for six and only managed to find Matt Parkinson on the boundary to be last out for 86. Gloucestershire 188ao and just 52 needed to win.

With so few runs to play with, even a triple wicket maiden the first over would have been insufficient. As it was, Durham proceeded to knock off the runs with a minimum of fuss, despite rotation of the bowlers. In the end, it was Zafar who got the only breakthrough, dismissing Alex Lees when he tried a paddle shot but, at 38-1 the match was long over by then. Scott Borthwick swept Ollie Price for two to bring the scores level in the twelfth over and finished the job with a single to Fine Leg. A nine wicket win, and Gloucestershire well beaten.

If anyone harboured any delusions that a couple of wins at Cheltenham could launch a rapid rise up the table, they must have been dissipated now.

County Championship Round 6, Gloucestershire v Durham

 

 Day 1

An unfamiliar look to the side against the runaway leaders of Division 2. Whatever your allegiance, it is good to see Durham finally on the up after the draconian punishment meted out by the ECB. However, they would pose a big test even for a full strength Gloucestershire. Apart from the long-term absence of David Payne, there was no Tom Price, no Graeme van Buuren (James Bracey took over the captaincy from the injured GvB) and no de Lange. Back came Jack Taylor to bat at 6. In came Josh Shaw and Zaman Akhter for only his second First Class match.

Scott Borthwick won the Toss and decided to bat. Ajeet Dale and Matt Taylor with the New Ball. A flat pitch, good weather and Durham, who have racked-up the runs for fun this season, to contend with. Fourteen from the first two overs was evidence that Durham were going to do what they have been doing to other sides all season and attack from the off. Even so, they did not have it all their own way. Ajeet Dale, enjoying being entrusted with the New Ball, ran in at Michael Jones, who had 13 from 10 balls. The batsman left expansively, Dale’s delivery angled in and exploded the stumps. Yet another clean-bowled to his name. 15-1. Just the tonic that the side needed. However, Durham consolidated and the appearance of Akhter for the 14^th over led to an acceleration in the run-rate, although he was unlucky not to get Lees in his first over to an attempted cut shot that almost caught the edge. On came Zafar to restore order and Alex Lees hammered his first delivery back over his head to the boundary, his first over going for 12 runs.

Unusually, Alex Lees took guard well outside off to Josh Shaw. It was not a successful tactic as he flashed, edged, and was taken by Zafar in the Gulley. 86-2 and the Shire feeling better about the morning. Even so, up came the 100 in the 25^th over, with Durham scoring at better than 4-an-over.

127-2 at Lunch from 29 overs at 4.4-an over, with the batsmen taking a special liking to Zafar and Akhter. Durham most definitely the happier of the two sides at Lunch.

Ajeet Dale was as aggressive as ever and sat Scott Borthwick with an excellent bouncer, however, the batsman soon got his revenge with a Square Drive to go to his 50 from 73 balls and bring up the 50 partnership. Unusually, at this point every run was off the bat. Something is always happening when Ajeet Dale is bowling. His eleventh over saw the first extra (a No Ball), a bouncer aimed like an Exocet, which Borthwick ducked, a play and miss and then an identical – and better executed, save for one detail – shot, flicked to leg, which Miles Hammond, who was placed for the shot, intercepted with a wonderful flying catch at Leg Gulley. 149-3. The over then ended with new bat, Ollie Robinson receiving a short ball straight in the midriff. Action a-plenty in that over. Dale with 2-33 and bowling with some fire on a very flat track. Next over, David Bedingham first played and missed at Matt Taylor and then lofted the next delivery to Akhter  at Mid-Wicket. 149-4 and Gloucestershire right back in the game, with two next batsmen at the crease, both without scoring. It could have been even better: first ball, Clark received a superb yorker from wide of the crease. He jammed his bat down on it, the ball slid onto the back pad and trickled close to the stumps, with Clark having no idea where it had gone.

Again Durham regrouped, and a new partnership formed. Zafar was being harshly treated, with 0-47 from 7 overs and the bat was getting back on top. The 200 came up with a massive six over Long On off the suffering Zafar. With Akhter, who bowled some very good deliveries, along with some very poor ones, also being expensive, things started to look ominous again. Zafar then bowled a very fine over to Robinson, who seemed to get frustrated, aiming two massive cuts, the second of which took an inside edge and was superbly caught by a gleeful James Bracey. 214-5 and some cheer for Zafar on a tough afternoon. A little control of the run-rate returning.

Again, a partnership started to build: Clark and de Leede building again. 240-5 at Tea, Graham Clark 36*, Bas de Leede, 14*. Up came the 250 in the 68^th over. James Bracey was standing up to Josh Shaw who was the most economical of the bowlers and helping to apply some real pressure. It did not prevent Clark and de Leede putting up the fourth, fifty partnership of the innings, 266-5 and the bat getting on top again.

With the New Ball just four overs away, on came Ben Charlesworth. After a tidy first over, 14 came off this second. On too came Jack Taylor for, presumably, a single over and up came the 300 with a boundary from his first ball. The New Ball was thrown at once to Ajeet Dale: 303-5 and, James Bracey badly needing a wicket. Eighteen from an Ajeet Dale over and Durham were motoring. The hundred partnership had been and left far behind in a flash. Two more boundaries from Matt Taylor: six boundaries and 27 runs had come off just two overs with the still new ball. Back came Zafar for just the seventh over with the New Ball and, immediately, James Bracey brought off a smart stumping as de Leede overbalanced. 338-6, the second bowling point up. Bracey was jubilant and Zafar was seeing some reward. Celebration was tempered, though, with Clark 82* and looking set for a century. A brace of boundaries off Matt Taylor took him up to 90*. 350 came up, but then Zafar spun a ball prodigiously from outside off that also kept wickedly low. It looked to have even turned too much, but he won the decision: 350-7.

Still runs flowed off Clark’s bat at the other end. A brace of fours off Akhtar took him to 99*, although he must have been very close to departing to both the next two deliveries with the ball passing very close first to the inside edge and then to the outside edge of Clark’s bat: both times, Bracey and the Slips appealed loudly. Finally, Clark turned Zafar off his legs to complete a century from 153 balls, but went just 3 balls later, trying to cut a ball far too close to him and falling LBW. 369-8, Zafar 4-95 and his early struggles forgotten. Akhter finally got his reward just before the Close when Matty Potts drove without due care and attention and Miles Hammond arrested his progress with another catch. 374-9, the third bowling point. There was still time, though, for some merry hitting from the last pair.

393-9 at the Close. Durham 7 short of the fourth batting point. A well-contested day, but Durham have the runs on the board and have scored fast. Gloucestershire will want to stop this annoying last-wicket partnership quickly in the morning and use the pitch as well as Durham have.

Day 2

A frustrating day for the Shire. Glimpses of what might have been, but now the unbeaten run of eight matches covering the 2022 and 2023 seasons is in real danger.

So far, only Sussex and Yorkshire have kept Durham below 400 in the first innings and only against Yorkshire have they failed to pass 350 (and Durham still won), which is where their impressive haul of batting points has come from. Could Gloucestershire hold them below that symbolic mark too? The last wicket pair had put on 54 in the first innings against Yorkshire and started by adding four singles from the first eleven deliveries before Coughlin went big against Zafar and brought up the 400 with a six. When Patel added a boundary from Ajeet Dale the partnership had risen to 33 and was getting more than annoying. The talk by the visitors before the start of play of Durham getting the fifth batting point too began to seem all too realistic for comfort: ten overs left for points, 36 required. Boundaries from consecutive Dale deliveries for Coughlin  and then another big six took him to 49 and brought up the 50 partnership in 44 balls. Coughlin’s 50 from 43 balls came from the next ball. The bowling was getting hammered and the 450 was approaching like an express train. On came Matt Taylor and saw his first delivery disappear for four more. Finally, though, he induced an edge from Patel and Bobby Bracey completed his third dismissal of the innings. 445ao.

“Get in and go big”, said Dan Whiting. Marcus Harris was lucky enough to be dropped second ball, which should have been a warning. At the other end, Chris Dent scored boundaries from his first two balls: the first no more than a firm push, the second a solid pull. Rapid outfield. Sun. Perfect conditions. What could Shire do?

Disastrously, Chris Dent left a ball from Matt Potts, the ball came back in, kept a little low and Dent was given LBW. Maybe it was doing too much. Maybe he was a little unlucky. What was not in doubt was that it was the wrong ball to leave. 10-1 and with a much longer tail than against Derbyshire. Not the start that you wanted to see.

What followed was the sort of batting that made the later collapse even more galling to watch. Ben Charlesworth had a Silly Mid On and a Silly Mid Off, two Slips and a Gulley. Most definitely an interesting field for Ben Raine, but an indication that the bowlers thought that there was some irregular bounce to be exploited. Even so, slowly the batsmen were consolidating. Raine bowled a little too far down leg and the ball went for four leg byes. A Square Cut for four next ball from Harris. On came Ajaz Patel to bowl spin as early as the thirteenth over and Harris danced down to club him for four through Mid On, but perilously close to a fielder. Again, Harris came down the pitch to Patel, but only got a single from it. Still, 39-1 from 13 overs was getting more respectable. Ben Charlesworth took his cue and launched the first ball he faced from Patel far over Long On for six. Up came the 50 in the sixteen over. However, Charlesworth also tried to dance down the pitch to a fuller ball and was lucky to Chinese cut it for four when the ball could have gone anywhere. A Harris boundary brought up the 50 partnership. Ben Charlesworth then offered a very tough chance, fast and low to Short Forward Square Leg that went down to the frustration of the close fielders. Another Charlesworth edge, this time off Coughlin, flew through where 3^rd Slip had been not long before and added 4 more.

66-1 from 20 overs at Lunch. Probably an even session, maybe even slightly frustrating for Durham, who had gone so close to the fifth batting point and, with the batsmen both flirting with danger, had seen the two shots that flew to fielders, go to ground.

Although play had started in sunshine, the weather had got darker and more menacing before the break, which was the cue for Gloucestershire’s weekly homage to Jupiter Pluvius. Down came the rain and on came the covers and the big sheets. Meanwhile, those fans still depressed by last season would do well to look at the score at Southampton, where Northants are 27-7 and mutter “there, but for the grace of God go we”. Northants look set to be dismissed for under 100 for the third time this season and four more times have failed to reach 200: Division 1 is a tough old shark pond, as the Shire found last season.

Eighty minutes lost. An edged boundary off Coughlin took Harris to 47*. Then a delivery from Patel beat everything and went for 4 byes. Charlesworth inside edged and the ball bounced over the stumps. Harris gave Patel the charge, the ball squeezed under the bat, and he just avoided it spinning back onto his stumps: 98-1 and the ball not running for Durham. There was nothing wrong, though, with the Cover Drive that Ben Charlesworth produced to bring up the 100. The Marcus Harris 50 came up with a reserve sweep off Patel: two balls later he aimed a cut at a wide delivery and edged to the ‘keeper: 110-2 and some of the gloss had come off what had been a good session. In came Miles Hammond with his side needing a century from someone.

Only the worst pessimists could imagine the slide that would follow.

Miles Hammond, who played for England U19 as an off-spinner who could bat, started well with three boundaries from a Coughlin over. Ben Raine came into the attack and Hammond Square Cut him for consecutive boundaries. Once again, he had started batting like a million dollars. The last thing that the Shire needed was to lose him to the last ball before Tea, leaving a ball that, even if it had not come back in to hit Off, would still have been a perilously tight leave. It was another innings that illustrated both his ability and his propensity to give away a good start with his weakness outside off. 139-3 and the Follow-On mark of 295 suddenly looking a long way away, especially with the out of form Jack Taylor coming in at 5.

Taylor tried an ambitious cut and just about survived. Next ball he received one in his zone and launched Patel way over Long On to get off the mark with a huge six. Jack Taylor is always best when he goes for his shots… but judiciously! Raine dropped a ball short and leg side to Ben Charlesworth who brought up his 50 with an imperious hook. Taylor tried another big hit, but half pulled out of the shot and just cleared the fielder for a lucky 4. Still, he was trusting his eye and deciding to go for his shots, but it was a high risk strategy. After two cut shots off his stumps, he tried a forward defensive and was comprehensively bowled through the gate. 168-4. Here we go again. It got worse. James Bracey had looked in good form but reached for a ball outside off and edged Potts straight into the midriff of Second Slip. 189-5. Almost 15 overs left. With a long tail, would the Shire even manage to reach the Close?

Zafar was flirting with danger outside off but, when he got it right, a fine Square Cut brought up the 200. The feeling was that Durham would bat again, even if Gloucestershire failed to save the Follow-On because neither side would want to bat last but, the first target was to get past 250. The task was made far harder when Bas de Leede aimed one across Charlesworth who flashed, and Bedingham at Second Slip took a good catch above his head. Charlesworth out for 71, 214-7 and worse was to come almost at once as Matt Taylor survived two balls and then flicked his third gently to Scott Borthwick: 217-7 and the ship sinking fast. Zafar played studiously forward, missed and the ball went for four byes. He then swept hard at Patel, missed again and this time did not get away with it, stumped as his back foot slipped forward. 227-8. Akhter edged his first ball to Second Slip and Patel was on a hat-trick. 168-3 had become 227-9.

In came Ajeet Dale to a fielders’ convention. Somehow room was found for a third slip, who joined the Silly Point, Short Forward Square Leg and Silly Mid Off. Dale swung, the ball rolled out and the batsman survived. An edge just evaded Second Slip’s outstretched hand and brought a boundary. Shaw and Dale decided to hit out and take their chances, as the Durham last wicket pair had done and, improbably, the 250 and the bonus point came up with a huge six the Shaw hit over Long On. Patel’s over went for 16 from a combination of byes and runs off the bat. Josh Shaw then hit the last ball of the day for a gorgeous Cover Drive and the Shire survived to resume in the morning.

255-9. 41 needed to save the Follow-On, although nobody believes that Durham will want to enforce it. Either way, Gloucestershire are facing a big deficit and the likelihood of a very improbable fourth innings chase. They will need a very, very good Day 3 to save that unbeaten run.

Day 3

At some point tomorrow, probably before Lunch, the eight-game unbeaten streak that Gloucestershire started on September 5^th, 2022, at Taunton, will end in a defeat although, for a glorious hour and a half in the evening, the faithful could dream of an astonishing last-day chase still being possible.

There was a simple task for the Shire today: take time out of the game. Extend the last wicket partnership as long as possible. Slow Durham’s progress with the bat as much as possible to reduce the time available to be bowled out a second time. It would take a titanic effort to save the game but, if it could be saved, it would give the team great morale. That was the theory. It just did not quite work out in practice.

Josh Shaw accumulated, supported by Ajeet Dale, helped by some leg-side bowling that brought four byes and four leg byes. He then brought up the fifty partnership with a huge six over Long On, followed by a quick single. Another huge six over Long On took them to within four of the Follow-On mark and within eight of a second bonus point. Seven overs survived, 37 added, but the New Ball looming. Hold your breath. Keep your head. One edge through the slips  or deflection off a pad would do. Sadly, Ajeet Dale went for an ambitious drive with just four balls to go to the New Ball and Matthew Potts castled him comprehensively. Josh Shaw left high and dry, five short of his First Class Best.

292ao. Better than we dared hope, but the 300 was so close. The last pair had showed that, against an old ball at least, there was not too much wrong with the track. Durham were soon to demonstrate it comprehensively.

The two key numbers of the Gloucestershire innings, though, were 8, 2 and 3: eight batsmen got a start, just two reached 40 and three were dismissed, leaving a ball. Too many batsmen had done the hard work of getting in and had got out. Second time around the order of the day would be “same batting order, better batting!”

Durham batting again, 153 ahead. How long would they bat?

It was no great surprise to see Zafar wheeling away as early as the fifth over and he must have come precious close to removing Jones immediately after a New Ball thrust that proved a little more costly than James Bracey would have liked. Ajeet Dale’s first six overs went for just 11. Zafar’s first five went for 16. Matt Taylor was, though, more expensive and, when he returned to rest Ajeet Dale, he gave too much width and went for two boundaries.

Gloucestershire had good reason to be happy with their first hour of bowling. It was tight. Scoring opportunities were limited. Durham progressed to 48-0 without many alarms, but without racing away. The half hour before Lunch was, though, a horror story. 48 were scored from those first 16 overs. 53 came from the next nine, which included a Matt Taylor maiden over. It was if the fifty coming up with a Square Cut from the first ball of the 17^th over, delivered by Zafar, flicked a switch. Another boundary and a six, clubbed by Jones, followed. Fifteen from the over. Matt Taylor bowled his maiden, and all hell was let loose. Jones’ 50 included three sixes, the first two hit off consecutive Zafar overs, the third when Jack Taylor replaced him. The hundred came up in the last over before Lunch. This would have been even worse had the imminence of the break not caused the batsmen to reduce the intensity of their assault a couple of notches for the last four overs.

101-0 at Lunch. 254 ahead. At this rate of scoring Durham would be able to declare after Tea, at least 400 ahead. Not good.

The news got worse. Ajeet Dale off the field after Lunch, apparently as a precaution because of his heavy bowling load. Dom Goodman on as substitute and the Shire a bowler short.

First over after Lunch, Akhter had Jones pinned in front and launched an appeal running right down until he was facing the batsman. The ball kept low and was hitting middle. The only problem was that the impact was just outside off. Then he aimed an expansive sweep, top-edged and the ball cleared the ‘keeper. Zafar was getting turn but gave Jones too much room and was launched square for six. Finally, Zaman Akhter got his reward, bowling Lees round his legs (!!), middle and leg. 119-1, Lees out for 40. An odd dismissal and not one that Lees will be proud of.

Zafar seemed to be indicating, understandably, that he wanted a fielder in the carpark past Square Leg, but he started to get huge turn from the rough outside the left-hander’s Off Stump. Scott Borthwick did not play a shot to a ball the spun back a long way and was given LBW. 122-2 and the Durham charge slowing a little. Unfortunately, not for long. It was a different matter bowling to the right-hander as Jones launched a sweep for six over the short boundary at Square Leg and then swept Zafar’s next two deliveries for boundaries: lead over 300, Jones in the 90s. After a quiet period, 24 came from two over.

Josh Shaw came into the attack and was hit through the covers for two crunching boundaries before Bedingham got a little early on one that was a bit straighter and top edged to Chris Dent.178-3. The lead 331 and Durham scoring so fast that you could see a declaration 450 ahead possibly even before Tea. Another Square Cut and up came Michael Jones’ century from 127 balls. Durham chasing quick runs and prepared to risk losing wickets. The result was carnage. Josh Shaw’s punishment for the temerity of taking a wicket was to concede two boundaries and ten runs in his next over. Zafar’s tactic of wanting a man out beyond the Square Leg boundary was justified when Robinson put one straight down the throat of Paul van Meekeran… unfortunately, it didn’t count because (a) van Meekeran was not playing and (b) the ball had cleared the boundary by a large margin. Just the thirteen runs off the over. It added up to 39 from 4 overs of Shaw and Zafar.

Potential bowlers must have wanted to hide every time James Bracey tried to catch their eye. The unlucky one to hold the stare was Jack Taylor. First ball short. Robinson launched it high into the stands at Square Leg. Second ball, rinse, and repeat. Third delivery, a wide outside off. Fourth, a fraction closer and crashed square for four. Acrobatic fielding kept Robinson to a single from the last three deliveries, but it was still 18 from the over and a pre-Tea declaration looking more and more likely. 45 minutes to Tea, 393 ahead.

The 400 lead came up in the 45^th over. Robinson’s 50 came from 25 balls. It was a good rate of scoring even for a T20. Robinson tried to reverse sweep Zafar, missed, dragged his back foot out and James Bracey executed his second smart stumping of the match. 272-4 and the declaration, 425 ahead and Tea taken with 46 overs remaining.

Good news: no short session before Tea.

Bad news: the two overs to be deducted for the change of innings, would not be.

142 overs to play. 426 the target. 3.00 the asking rate. Nothing to it!

Chris Dent needed a long innings, but it almost ended second ball when he edged at catchable height, between Second and Third Slip. He got four for it, but it was a moral victory. Two balls later, he was perilously close to LBW (ball pitched outside leg??) Next ball, a lovely Cover Drive for four. Buckle up! It’s going to be a bumpy ride! Hope lasted 15 balls. The 16^th accounted for Chris Dent, the 17^th for Ben Charlesworth (nick to the ‘keeper and catch to Third Slip, respectively). 11-2. Game over.

Hat-trick ball. Miles Hammond digs out a yorker in front of just the five waiting slips.

One thing that favoured the batsmen was that, with attacking fields, anything that beat the in-field was likely to go for four. Scoring quickly was not a problem. It was scoring quick AND staying in that was the problem. And no one seemed to be up to the task.

Many Gloucestershire supporters seem to lose patience with Miles Hammond. When he gets in, he looks top class and bats like a million dollars, but he has just two First Class centuries and a very poor conversion rate of fifties to centuries, getting out far too often to loose shots when set. Off the mark with a glorious Cover Drive, maybe this was the situation to get his juices flowing? Miles Hammond plays spin well and it was almost a relief to see Patel on for the ninth over of the innings. He played three balls studiously and then danced down and unleashed a perfect Cover Drive for four.

The batsmen were scoring at better than four-an-over. Surely those two early wickets were just an aberration? Another Hammond Cover Drive brought up the 50 in the thirteenth over. The batsmen looked in no difficulty. Raine bowled a ball from round the wicket that lifted a bit more. Hammond tried to remove his bat and just guided the ball gently to Second Slip off the face. It is a shot that gets no better when seen again. 53-3 and the out of sorts Jack Taylor coming in. A cricket pitch is a lonely place when you are low on form and confidence. Seeing a ball from Patel turn and leap at Marcus Harris out of the rough and run for four byes probably did little for the confidence of the batsmen. Harris then took a single. First ball, Jack Taylor took a big stride down the pitch, played forward, missed, and was stumped. He stared at the line for some considerable time before walking off, perhaps suggesting that he did not think that his back foot had moved, but the scoreboard said otherwise. 58-4 and the odds on the game not entering its final day. The experiment of playing Jack Taylor at 5 to protect James Bracey had failed. It was almost 58-5. Bracey was hit on the pad second ball and probably was only saved because he was hit just outside off when playing a shot.

James Bracey scored just two from his first twenty balls before breaking the shackles with a sweep for four and then deflecting the next delivery through the slips for another. Thirteen off the Patel over, but Durham had a lot of runs to play with. A brace of boundaries for the Captain brought up the hundred in the 23^rd over and the Shire were motoring along at almost four and a half per over. A few quiet overs of accumulation and James Bracey came down the pitch and launched Patel over Long On for another boundary. All the while, Marcus Harris was playing quietly and staying out of trouble. Nothing flashy, but effective. He flicked Scott Borthwick’s first delivery to bring him a fifty from 86 balls in his last innings before leaving for Test duty. 126-4. Was a bubble of hope starting to rise?

When James Gracey turned Scott Borthwick off his legs for his seventh boundary it brought up his fifty (in 77 balls) and the team 150. The partnership stood at 97. Another hour of this and some nerves might just start to assail the opposition. Endless field changes. Maybe a bit of gamesmanship to break the batsman’s concentration? A Leg Slip came in for the next delivery, which got big on Bracey and was guided straight to that Leg Slip. Bracey out for 50. 150-5 and a very entertaining counterattack was ended. Zafar likes to play positively and deposited his second ball into the crowd at Square Leg. His third went flatter and only brought four. The fielder at Short Forward Square Leg must have felt that he was the coconut in a coconut shy. That, though, was the end of the fun. Borthwick was removed with the attack with figures of 4-0-36-1 but he had got the vital breakthrough. Just over six overs to go to the Close. Zafar danced down the pitch and missed. Ollie Robinson behind the stumps missed too. There was an almighty confusion of the batsman diving, the ‘keeper scrambling for the ball and flicking off the bails. The umpire adjudged that Robinson had won by a whisker. 174-6 and Durham into the tail.

Six men around the bat for Matt Taylor, but he survived. The day ended in brilliant sunshine, with long shadows across the ground, the longest of all, another collapse on a far from impossible pitch.

181-6 at the Close. 245 to win. Marcus Harris 71*.

Day 4

Gloucestershire tied in knots that would have taxed Houdini. There comes a point where all hope is gone and you can sit back, relax, and just enjoy the game for what it is. This is one of those occasions. Defeat is inevitable. Let’s have some fun.

The end came much later than anyone could have expected, thanks to an eighth wicket partnership of 88 and there was even a moment when it looked as if the match could extend past lunch. It made it all the more deflating that the last three wickets fell in the space of eleven balls after a titanic fight through most of the session. The final margin of defeat was 125 runs. The Shire was well beaten, but Marcus Harris and Josh Shaw gave us plenty to cheer while we waited for the inevitable axe to fall.

The main question was one of whether the tail could see Marcus Harris through to his century. Harris, for his part was willing to take singles first or second ball of the over and to trust Matt Taylor, who is not the worst tail-ender in the county game. Matt Taylor stuck it out for five overs of the morning, when the Gloucestershire cause really needed something closer to fifty. He pushed forward to Patel, was hit on the back leg and was dead in the water. 202-7. Josh Shaw came in at 9 and, again, shaped-up well enough to suggest that he could have a role as a bowler who can bat a bit, hitting some confident boundaries. All the while, Marcus Harris’ score was creeping up through the 80s and into the 90s. Josh Shaw was lucky on 18 that Slip could not quite scoop up an edge, but he was unfazed and Harris just kept going.

Finally, on 97*, facing Patel, he got the ball that he wanted. WHACK! Josh Shaw took avoiding action as the ball flew over Mid On for the boundary that Marcus Harris needed to reach his landmark. 163 balls, 14x4. A calm, class knock. Josh Shaw was also more than holding his own: a hook off Raine took him to 23* and the score to 245-7. He then hammered Patel over the bowler’s head to bring up the 250 and the fifty partnership with another boundary. Raine was hooked for his sixth boundary, bringing the runs required under 170. The margin of defeat was getting a little more respectable. It was a victory of sorts when partnership-breaker, Scott Borthwick, was brought on with twelve overs still to the New Ball. Borthwick offered Shaw an awful delivery that bounced halfway down: Shaw swivelled and despatched it over Mid-wicket. A single and he was onto 40. A slightly misdirected yorker from Bas de Leede dug out for a single and now, he was just one from his career best. A single to one on his legs and up came his First Class best score. The target was less than 150 away. A fifty was there for the taking. Borthwick and de Leede bowling. Durham waiting for the New Ball.

Four to Marcus Harris behind Square Leg and runs from almost every ball of a de Leede over: thirteen in total. Just get through to Lunch. Durham wouldn’t be sweating, but it would maybe put a little grain of doubt in a few minds.

290-7. Harris 120*, Shaw 44*. Patel bowled a magic ball that started well outside leg, turned right across Josh Shaw, and was edged to Slip. Shaw could not believe it, but he had more than done his job. Back came the front-line bowlers. Marcus Harris took a single first ball of the next over leaving Zaman Akhter to face Matt Potts: it was a catchweight contest and it took just three balls for him to get one through the gate and re-arrange the batsman’s stumps. 291-9. Lunch would be delayed, if necessary. No delay was needed. Again, Harris took a single early in the next over and again, the result was repeated. A lusty swipe over the non-striker’s head for four followed by a slashing shot straight to Cover. 300ao. 125 runs the margin.

Where do we go from here? For this match, Gloucestershire were missing David Payne, Graeme van Buuren, Tom Price, Marchant de Lange, Dom Goodman (all injured), and Ollie Price (exams in a week and a half), quite apart from the long-term issues that have kept Tom Lace out of the team. For the next round of games, in three weeks’ time, David Payne should be available. GvB’s hamstring injury is not serious but may keep him out of the first couple of Blast matches. Probably most serious is the loss of Marcus Harris for six weeks, although the good performances of Ben Charlesworth suggest that he will be an able replacement, with Ollie Price potentially batting at 3, as he did with some success last season. The team that lines up at Bristol on June 11^th should be much stronger, at least in bowling, but the lack of first innings runs remains a concern: that is the biggest problem that Steve Snell must address.

 

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.