County Championship Round 13 Gloucestershire v Derbyshire: September 10th 2023

 

 Preview

The last home game and a potential wooden-spoon decider, with Derbyshire just a point ahead, although with a game in hand. The return of Graeme van Buuren to strengthen the side, but Ed Middleton coming in because Zaman Akhtar is the latest bowler to fall and, although Matt Taylor was named in the XIII, there was never a realistic chance that he would be able to play.

With only a game against Sussex to come, this is the best chance of a maiden win after the disappointment of the Leicestershire game.

Day 1

Murky grey skies and the floodlights on, casting shadows dark enough to make an umpire twitchy about the light. Graeme van Buuren was back as captain and won the Toss, choosing to bat. He was not to know that the team would respond with arguably their best batting performance of the season.

Unlike the light, the batsmen made a bright start after two initial maidens from Sam Conners. Fifteen from a Pat Brown over, including two boundaries to Ben Charlesworth and a ball sprayed down leg for four byes certainly helped. After seven overs, the umpires took the players off and, with thunder around, the covers came on, rapidly followed by the first tarpaulins over the run-ups. 32-0, Charlesworth 18*, Dent 8*. Soon, heavy rain was falling, and the full square was being covered.

Back came the players after an early Lunch, with sunshine breaking through and altogether more attractive conditions for batting. Chris Dent brought up the fifty with a neat clip off his legs through Mid-Wicket. Pat Brown offered Chris Dent width and he crunched the ball through the Covers. Again, Chris Dent was looking set for a big innings: his First Class average of just 31.5 over the last 12 months has been well below his career average, This time he got to 41 before pushing at a ball outside off to Lewis Reece that was pouched comfortably behind. 80-1 in the twentieth over. And another nice-looking innings that failed to turn into a major score.

In came James Bracey and got off the mark with an edged boundary first ball. Lewis Reece, though, did not take long to despatch Ben Charlesworth, edging low to Second Slip. 85-2, Charlesworth too had done the hard work, but had fallen for 30. Up came the hundred in the twenty-fifth over with an elegant James Bracey push into the Covers while, at the other end, Ollie Price was reverse-sweeping the spinner whenever he could. Everyone was shaping nicely, but, so far, no one was going on to a major score. James Bracey pushed forward to Anuj Dal and heard an explosion of stumps and bails behind. It was a lovely delivery but, at 128-3, with Bracey out for 23, the innings was threatening, once again, to tail-off well short of 300. Ollie Price, though, was batting like a million dollars and Miles Hammond played some attractive shots to take the Shire to 161-3 at Tea: Price 41*, Hammond 13*.

Miles Hammond has passed fifty six times this season, but is yet to get a century, often perishing being aggressive but, when Watts gave him a ball in his zone, straight after Tea, he used his feet and hauled it far over Long Off for a towering six. Again, he played an attacking shot to the first ball of the next over, bowled by Pat Brown. The ball took a leading edge and went straight up, eventually being taken by the ‘keeper. 169-4, Miles Hammond 21 and a fourth batsman out after getting past twenty, without going on to a fifty. In came Graeme van Buuren who straight drove his first ball imperiously for four and, after an exchange of singles, despatched his third ball in the same fashion: 9 runs from his first 3 balls. In previous seasons, the batsmen have looked scared to play their shots; without wanting to use the “Baz” word, this season they have tended to go a little to the other extreme, losing wickets to aggressive shots when a little caution might have been better advised. Today, though, the score continued to rattle along at a healthy 4-an-over, mostly without excessive risks. Up came the Ollie Price 50 from 71 balls (8x4) and then the 200 in the 49^th over to a Cover Drive from Ollie that was hauled-in just short of the boundary.

Graeme van Buuren was proving a solid and aggressive foil, becoming the sixth batsman to reach 20 and doing it at a run-a-ball. Perhaps sensing the chance to make it count, the scoring slowed almost to nothing for about half an hour before Graeme van Buuren decided that he was ready. Mark Watt was pulled for four to bring up the fifty partnership. The first ball of his next over was slogged over Wide Mid-On for six. Quick singles were taken aggressively. Sam Conners replaced Watt and went for ten off his first over, straight driven by Ollie Price for one boundary and then crashed through Point by Graeme van Buuren for another. The 250 and first batting point came up at the start of the sixty-fifth over. This was intelligent batting of the kind that we have seen all too rarely this season. Alex Thomson overpitched and Graeme van Buuren hammered him over Long On for another six to reach his fifty (68 balls, 6x4, 2x6). Up came the century partnership in 146 balls. A sweep for four took Ollie to 90. Finally, yet another sweep for four took him to his century from 155 balls with 13x4. Then the reverse sweep came our to bring up the 300 and second batting point. Van Buuren almost Chinese Cut onto his stumps, but got three for it, then dabbed a more conventional boundary. Runs were flowing fast.

Four overs to go in the day, 317-4. Play for the Close? Ollie took a thick edge for one boundary, bringing up the 150 partnership in the process, then a lovely Square Cut for another, next ball. A single and Graeme van Buuren was back on strike. Anuj Dal pitched one on middle that hit the top of off and van Buuren was out for a superb 78 and the score read 325-5. Dal had produced two magnificent wicket-taking balls and, with just seven balls of the day left, added a third, as Zafar pushed at a wide ball that moved away from him a fraction and edged a very low catch behind. 332-6.

Out came Ed Middleton, on debut, but Ollie Price saw out the final over of the day, taking a single from the last delivery so that the debutant will not need to face the first ball tomorrow.

332-6 at the Close. A fine day for the Shire, who should add at least a third batting point tomorrow.

Day 2

A grey, overcast day. Ollie Price on 125*, but only the tail to support him. First priority, the 350 and the third batting point. The fourth batting point, though, would require both Ollie Price to go only a big hundred and someone from the tail to keep him company. A New Ball, just three overs old and 104 overs to bowl. Two, late wickets had slowed the Gloucestershire charge in the evening and set the pattern for the morning. However, after the first half of the day definitely went Derbyshire’s way, the second half swung right back towards the Shire, who ended the day with the advantage.

Ollie Price guided the second ball of the day down to Third Man for a boundary and Gloucestershire were up and running again. Unfortunately, he fell in the fifth over of the day. Anuj Dal reacted brilliantly, diving full length right in his follow-through to grab a very low caught and bowled. Price out for 132 (194 balls, 18x4) and 341-7. A guide through Third Man brought Ed Middleton a boundary and the 350 in the ninety-second over. Josh Shaw has shown that he can bat effectively when he puts his mind to it and took 15 from 5 deliveries, including a boundary clubbed through the Covers off Dal and a nice dab through Third Man. However, the sixth delivery of the sequence was hit back fairly hard to Sam Conners and caught sharply, very low, by the bowler. 366-8 and the 400 looking much further away. The runs kept coming, helter-skelter: a nice pull by Dom Goodman added another boundary behind square. A ball down leg clipped the pad and went for four leg byes, then Ed Middleton hit on the pad by Anuj Dal and, despite suspicions that it was going down the leg side, was given LBW and the score had subsided to 376-9. Before Luke Charlesworth could get to the crease it was raining and the players were taken off and, very rapidly, full covers were on. The delay was not long, but twelve overs were lost.

The innings finished very rapidly on the resumption, with Dom Goodman nicking Anuj Dal through to the wicket-keeper to end the innings on 377ao and finish on 6-69. The last six wickets had fallen for 61. Momentum had swung completely and Gloucestershire, with only three specialist seamers, needed wickets with the New Ball.

16-0 from 5 overs at Lunch, with one very loud Josh Shaw appeal for LBW being denied. Zafar Gohar straight into the attack after Lunch and aiming at the footmarks with a Slip and a Short Forward Square Leg, who rapidly became aware of the perils of his position, by being hit painfully on the leg. The batsmen progressed serenely, with no major alarms: that Josh Shaw was bowling with just a single Slip showed how much confidence there was that still new ball would take wickets. However, he was economical, with his seven overs around Lunch going for just 16. Up came the 50 in the 14th over with a slog-sweep that, once again, had Short Forward Square Leg thinking about his life insurance. Zafar’s response was a wonderful ball that turned inside the bat and just missed the stumps.

On came Luke Charlesworth to replace Shaw. He should have got Harry Came but, on 62-0, James Bracey missed a routine edge, with the ‘keeper slightly misjudging his dive. Came was then on 39. James Bracey has been so reliable this season that it was a real surprise to see him miss one. With Zafar being attacked, Ed Middleton was brought into the attack to bowl his leg spin, delivering a tidy first over that produced some turn. Not a bad start for the debutant. Luke Charlesworth saw another drop as Miles Hammond could not quite hold a hard cut from Lewis Reece, although it would have been a miraculous catch had it stuck. Then Ed Middleton pinned Lewis Reece, but the impact was outside the line, so the batsman survived. It could have been 66-3 but, instead, the scoreboard read 66-0.

After bowling five overs for ten runs, Ed Middleton’s sixth over was expensive as a full toss was hammered for four and then another overpitched ball went for a maximum. He was rested and replaced with Ollie Price who almost struck immediately as the ball was guided just short of Ben Charlesworth at Short Forward Square. In his second over the ball lobbed up to Slip but had just missed the inside edge on the way to the thighpad. However, with the hundred up, as well as the individual fifties of both openers, Graeme van Buuren had a real problem. 128-0 at Tea and that 377ao was looking smaller by the hour.

Finally, the wicket came. A full delivery from Luke Charlesworth. Harry Came played across it and was given LBW. 132-1 and Came out for 68. Still the score mounted. Finally, Dom Goodman bounced Lewis Reece, who hooked him straight down Zafar Gohar’s throat: 169-2. If one wicket had not brought two, at least both openers were out, and the lead was still 208. A third wicket then fell as Brooke Guest at the non-striker’s end hesitated over what should have been a sharp, but safe single and was runout – more like electroculted – by Miles Hammond’s direct throw from Point. Guest out for 15, 177-3 and the scoreboard looking rather healthier. Finally, the momentum was beginning to swing a little. Just after the 200 came up, Wayne Madsen tried to sweep Zafar and was given LBW to Zafar’s delight. 203-4, Madsen 11.

Another wicket and Gloucestershire would be thinking of a first innings lead. With increasing turn for the spinners, there was the encouragement of bowling last on the pitch. However, yet another mini-stand built up, this time between Leus du Plooy and Matthew Lamb. Up came the 250, but Zafar was definitely causing problems and first caught a leading edge that fell safe and then, ripped one across Lamb. Seven overs left in the day. The stand approaching fifty. Gloucestershire needing at least one wicket before the Close. Ed Middleton back, turned a leg break a long way and cut du Plooy in two: his pre-delivery routine, spinning catches from right hand to left even as he started his run, was mesmeric. He certainly seemed not to be overawed, trying different variations and bowling good line and length. With six overs to go, and Derbyshire looking to get to the Close with no further loss, Matthew Lamb went after Zafar Gohar and hit the ball straight to Chris Dent at Short Mid-Wicket. Not bright cricket. Thanks very much. Lamb out for 24, 252-5.

Slowly, the bowlers were working their way through the batting. And nightwatchman Sam Conners was in, with overs still to bowl before the Close, and a cluster of fielders around the bat. Zafar spun a ball across him. Conners apparently got a fine edge as he came forward. James Bracey took off the bails like lightning, everyone appealed to the Square Leg umpire and both umpires gave him out. In the end, the caught happened before the stumping, so was the one that went into the book. 255-6. 3 overs to go. An Ed Middleton delivery turned and climbed, James Bracey only half stopping it as it beat everything. Suddenly, every delivery was an event. A Zafar delivery turned and, this one kept low but was just about kept out. 261-6 at the Close. 116 behind. The New Ball approaching and not a lot of batting to come.

Increasing turn. Variable bounce. Batting will be getting very interesting on Day 4. If Gloucestershire can get a lead of 50 or 60 tomorrow, dare we hope?

Day 3:

A grey and wet morning. No play before Lunch, with a 13:10 start declared but conditions threatening as the start time arrived. With more time lost, Gloucestershire need to finish the Derbyshire innings quickly and set about building a lead for a declaration before the Close. 72 overs to bowl and the threat that the game could peter-out into a draw. What no one expected was the drama that would surround Ed Middleton’s maiden First Class wicket as rain wrecked the chances of a positive result.

Zafar and Middleton opening the attack. Leus Du Plooy taking an Off Stump guard to Ed Middleton, who could aim for the rough to the left hander, something that Zafar had to be careful with against the righthander because the new leg side wide rule meant that he had absolutely no margin for error: anything even marginally wide being called by the umpire. The first five overs produced a bit of everything: runs, false shots, and the occasional delivery of absolutely ripping turn. Du Plooy tucked a ball to leg to bring up an excellent 50 that was threatening to stop Gloucestershire’s victory ambitions in their tracks.

The New Ball was taken at 80 overs, with Josh Shaw sharing it with Zafar. In his first over he saw one ball turn big off straight and another that was edged, low, between the two Slips, neither of whom could reach it. Nine from Zafar’s over, but signs that batting was going to get no easier. In his fourth over with the New Ball, Zafar tried an arm ball that went straight through Anuj Dal and bowled him: Zafar 4-88, 292/7, 85 behind and into the tail. Could it be removed quickly?

The answer was, as it has been on other occasions, a resounding “no!” There were plenty of good deliveries, but enough loose ones that the score kept mounting and Gloucestershire’s potential lead and chances of making something happen with it, shrinking fast. Up came the 300 and Leus du Plooy was moving through the seventies and looking, quite obviously, for a century, while Alex Thomson kept him company ably. On came Ed Middleton and Dom Goodman, but the good balls kept missing both the stumps and the edge of the bat. Alex Thomson offered a very tough chance to Miles Hammond at Square Leg, but he could not quite hang on. To add insult to injury, the ball went for four. 336-7 and victory chances disappearing by the minute. Then Dom Goodman bounced Alex Thomson, who hooked. The ball lobbed up. Ollie Price took it and let out a loud cry of “YEEEEESSSS”, but it was judged to have hit the forearm. Goodman bounced him again in the same over and, this time, Thompson hooked it for four.

350 up in the 101^st over, then the fifty partnership and Derbyshire looking at a first innings lead themselves. Batting was looking as comfortable as at any time in the match. Worst still, the increasing threat of missing the third bowling point. Finally, Dom Goodman tried another short ball and Thomson hooked it straight down the throat of Miles Hammond. 357-8. Derbyshire now just 20 behind. In came the burly Watt, who got a short one first ball and, quite obviously, was discomforted by it, twisting out of the way in ungainly fashion. That led to a third, consecutive bouncer, a No Ball and an informal warning. However, when the ball is in Mark Watt’s half, he hits it… hard. Up came parity with a Mark Watt single. Then there was a very loud LBW appeal against du Plooy and, finally, another LBW appeal (hit well outside off) and the run that put Derbyshire ahead. Four overs to go to get that ninth wicket and Derbyshire looking at a fourth batting point.

Last over before Tea. Leus du Plooy charged down the track, but just about got an inside edge on the ball and saw it trickle far enough away from the waiting James Bracey to be safe. 388-8 at Tea. 2 overs left for bonus points and du Plooy on 97*.

Second ball after Tea, Du Plooy went for the big hit from Ollie Price and got just enough on it to clear Zafar and trickle over the boundary: that was his century, 151 balls, 13x4. With 4 balls left for the 110 overs, at 394-8, the umpires decided that the light was too bad to continue. With some spots of rain in the air, on came the covers and two tarpaulins.

16:30 re-start. Nine more overs lost. And the draw looking increasingly like the only possible result.

So, four more deliveries for points. No pressure Ed Middleton, but now would be a good moment for your maiden First Class wicket. Seven catches spun between his hands, plus an eighth as he ran in. A swing from Mark Watt. A Chinese cut and the ball squirted out behind him. Then a slashing square cut for 4. One ball left. Two runs or a wicket needed for points. More mesmeric tossing from hand to hand, including that final, small toss after he started his run. Had he hypnotised the batsman? Whatever the reason, Mark Watt charged down the pitch and missed. James Bracey dropped the ball, but the batsman was so far out of his ground that he had time to bend down, pick it up and whip off the bails, which, to his credit, he did in a lightning movement. Mark Watt stumped for 19. The third bowling bonus point. Ed Middleton’s maiden First Class wicket and what a bit of drama. Just reward for some fine and very brave bowling. And, of course, with dark shadows from the floodlights surrounding the players, the umpires took the players off again before the final batsman could come out. And back on came the covers. How’s that for drama?

And this time, down came the rain and on came the full covers. And this time it was terminal. Ed Middleton, your timing was IMPECABLE!

Day 4

With so much time lost to rain, the Derbyshire tail wagging furiously, and only 96 overs to bowl, only some very bad cricket could produce a result. So, in all probability this would be a matter of seeing out time before the 5 o’clock handshake. The first order of business was to finish the Derbyshire innings and limit their lead because, if it grew much more, Derbyshire might just have sneaking thoughts of the possibilities of bowling out Gloucestershire quickly. What no one anticipated was that, for much of the afternoon, a Derbyshire win would look like a good each-way bet.

The weather, friendlier. Zafar and Ed Middleton with the ball. Leus du Plooy added one boundary, coming down the pitch to Ed Middleton to hit him over Long On and bring up the 400 before Zafar got a full over at the #11 and ended the innings with a straight one that hit right in front. 403ao. Zafar a thoroughly deserved 5-for. A Derbyshire lead of 26.

After a very quiet start, Gloucestershire started to up the run rate, taking the lead in the tenth over. Once that formality was dealt with, Chris Dent launched Mark Watt for a six back over his head, followed, more unexpectedly, with a reverse sweep for four straight out of the Ollie Price playbook. The 50 came up in the 14^th over, with the batsmen clearly seeking to play their shots and get the scoreboard moving and Derbyshire keeping close fielders up and not adding boundary riders when Chris Dent started playing some big shots. There was just a hint that maybe there might be an attempt to set a target: maybe 100 ahead at Lunch and a push for quick runs after. It never looked really likely and, some quiet overs and the fall of Ben Charlesworth, bowled by Mark Watt attempting the reverse sweep (68-1, Charlesworth 28) saw the run rate plummet back down again. With Lunch approaching and the lead still under 50, any thoughts of a result seemed condemned to be dismissed as wishful thinking. Then, last ball before Lunch, James Bracey pushed forward to Alex Thomson and was caught at Slip for 8. 83-2, the lead 57, 63 overs left and Derbyshire maybe eyeing an opportunity.

That opportunity got rapidly bigger as, just four balls later, Mark Watt found big turn out of the footmarks to bowl Chris Dent for 38. 83-3, the lead 61, and Derbyshire definitely now getting interested. What could Ollie Price and Miles Hammond do? When Miles Hammond edged Alex Thomson very low to Harry Came at Silly Point it was 104-4, with the lead just 78 and not much batting left to come. It soon got worse still. Ollie Price tried a reverse sweep, the ball lobbed up from a top edge, cannoned off the wicket-keeper’s chest or shoulder and was caught at a very short Square Leg. 111-5, effectively 85-5. If a not particularly difficult catch behind the wicket had been taken soon after, the situation would have been even worse. As it was, after one successful sweep for a boundary, Zafar tried another to the next ball from Alex Thomson and was taken at Deep Square Leg. 131-6, the lead 105 and 43 overs left, Graeme van Buuren on 11* at the other end and his side getting close to deep trouble.

In these situations, scoring runs is as important as conserving wickets. Twelve came off an Alex Thomson over as both batsmen scored boundaries. 124 the lead and 41 overs to go. Would 30 more runs be enough? Derbyshire tried a burst of pace with Pat Brown, who Ed Middleton took for a lovely, driven boundary. 159-6, 133 ahead, 37 overs to go and Middleton more than holding his own. 169-6 at Tea. 143 the lead. 32 overs to go. Graeme van Buuren, 23*, Ed Middleton 26*. The match almost safe, but then, it never should have been in danger.

After Tea, the batsmen started to add quick runs as if chasing a declaration! In reality, with the overs counting down, every boundary made the prospect of a Derbyshire run case more unlikely, even if the last four wickets went down extremely quickly. With 22 overs available to bat, the lead was 170 and getting towards being a fair T20 chase. Up came the 200 with an edge through the slips. By now the body language was saying that Derbyshire had given up on this one and, finally, with just 16 over left, the captains shook on the draw.

Gloucestershire finished on 208/6d, with Graeme van Buuren 48* and Ed Middleton, 39* and showing himself to be a good man in a crisis. And the sad fact remained that Gloucestershire ended up fighting for a draw in a match in which, after two days, they looked a fair bet for a win.

With just one match left and a point behind Derbyshire, who have a game in hand, as do Yorkshire, the wooden spoon looks an all too real possibility.

County Championship Round 8: Yorkshire v Gloucestershire, 25/06/2023

 

 

County Championship Round 8

Yorkshire v Gloucestershire

Preview

After a disappointing, but not unexpected Blast campaign, it is back to Championship action with Gloucestershire starting the run-in to the end of the season in 7^th, now 38 points behind the promotion places after consecutive defeats ended the unbeaten run.

With promotion now looking extremely unlikely, barring an astonishing run of form in the last six games, the main focus of the remaining games is to avoid the wooden spoon. The Leicestershire game, last time out, was a severe reality check, with a strong position lost in a volley of attacking shots and then the bowling attack struggling to exercise any threat. It led to a defeat that had seemed unthinkable with two sessions to play.

As in 2022, the injury crisis among the bowlers has been quite astonishing. With the first-choice attack rarely, if ever, available over the last three seasons and a squad that has less depth than most, even in Division 2, it is hard to carry players who are feeling their way back to form and fitness. In the Leicestershire game it was obvious that Tom Price and Ajeet Dale were not fully match fit, but they had to play anyway and that was a key factor in defeat.

With David Payne still unavailable for red-ball cricket, Ajeet Dale injured again, and Danny Lamb returned to Lancashire, one of Josh Shaw, Joe Phillips and Grant Roelofsen will be in the final XI: probably Josh Shaw to give a 4-man seam attack of Tom Price, Matt Taylor, Zaman Akhtar and Josh Shaw, supported by Zafar Gohar, although this leaves the tail longer than one would wish. The alternative relying on Ben Charlesworth as fourth seamer to fit in Joe Phillips or Grant Rolofsen as the extra batsman looks less likely. However, given that this campaign seems unlikely to supply the success that the club hoped for pre-season, there is a strong argument for playing Joe Phillips sooner rather than later.

Ahead is a Yorkshire side still struggling in the lower reaches of Division 2 and desperately needing to string together a series of victories. They won both games in 2012 when both sides were recently relegated to Division 2 (both games were close, though) and split the two games last season in Division 1. A draw will suit neither side, so expect both to go all-out for the win in what are likely to be hot and batsman-friendly conditions.

Day 1

Yorkshire won the Toss and, unsurprisingly, elected to bat. Gloucestershire, decided to pick Grant Roelofsen to bat at 3, going with three front-line seamers plus Zafar in the first game with the less responsive Kookaburra ball. Yorkshire had a side with some unfamiliar names in it, including the Surrey spinner, Dan Moriarty, at Headingley on loan.

Tom Price took the New Ball with Matt Taylor. The pitch looking surprisingly green and, under scattered, high cloud and intermittent sunshine, using the New Ball well looked to be critical. First impressions were that Tom Price still looked down on pace, as he had against Leicestershire. He went for six boundaries in his first three overs: the first a controlled edge through the three Slips, followed by three Cover Drives that Sir Geoffrey himself would have approved of. 33-0 from the first five overs and it was evident that this was going to be a hard day.

In truth, there were far too many four-balls waiting to be hit, something that went on all day: it was partly batsmen still on T20 mode, but a lot of it was the bowling not being tight enough. 55x4 and 3x6 in the day was too many boundaries.

What no one expected after such an explosive start was that Adam Lyth would half leave the first ball of Matt Taylor’s third over and guide a gentle catch to Ollie Price who took it diving to his left: a soft wicket and a gift to the bowler. He then pinned Shan Masood third ball, without scoring. Suddenly it was 33-2 and Matt Taylor was on 2.4-1-8.2. It could have been even worse for Torkshire. Dawid Malan edged his first ball between 3^rd Slip and Gulley: it went for four, but could have as easily have gone to hand.

The relief was brief. Tom Price, whose first three overs had gone for 25, was replaced by Zaman Akhtar. Rather than stopping the scoring, he went for a brace of boundaries and four byes in his first over. Matt Taylor also went for three boundaries, and, after 8 overs, the score was 61-2, a scoring rate more familiar in the Blast. Even though some quiet overs followed, including consecutive maidens, the introduction of Zafar in the sixteenth over was met gleefully by the delightfully named Finlay Bean, who swung him for a six and a four. On came Ben Charlesworth to spell the front-line seamers. He surely could barely believe how Dawid Malan glanced his first delivery – not the best that he has bowled in his career – through to James Bracey. 90-3 and Gloucestershire taking wickets despite the frantic pace of scoring.

Graeme van Buuren was changing constantly the bowlers in an attempt to make something happen, using six in the first session. It did slow the scoring somewhat from its peak of 7.62 runs per over to 4.79 per over at Lunch, but it was Yorkshire’s session. Twenty-one year old Finlay Bean, who has been playing in the 2^nd XI in recent weeks, in just his ninth First Class match since his debut at the end of last season, a menacing 65*. 139-3 from 29 overs, with 24 fours and a six. Frenetic stuff, although nothing like the mayhem at Leicester, where Durham were putting the hosts to the sword.

Matt Taylor and Zaman Akhter in tandem after Lunch as the clouds built and showers started to form around the area. It was not long before Zafar was back into the attack, Miles Hammond with his new and quite singular hairstyle (a crew-cut, dyed a pink that is now fading unevenly), donning the shinpads and helmet at Short Forward Square Leg. Zafar could not engineer the breakthrough and, although mostly he kept a lid on the scoring, an expensive over including an under-edged cut between Wicket-keeper and Slip and a six over Mid-wicket as George Hill danced down the wicket persuaded the Captain to bring himself on as seventh bowler. Meanwhile, the Yorkshire fans were the only ones laughing as Mr Bean moved smoothly into the 90s, while George Hill brought up his own 50 and then the team’s 200, hooking Tom Price to the boundary.

Finlay Bean clipped Ben Charlesworth for a single to move onto 99 and, in the same over, pulled the bowler through Square Leg to bring up his second First Class century from 140 balls. We saw a piece of daft cricket immediately after. Bean advanced down the pitch, mistimed his shot and, still out of his ground, but not attempting a run, Zafar threw the ball back, apparently attempting the runout. The throw took Bracey completely by surprise saw the ball run for, fortunately, only a single overthrow – which earned Zafar a lecture from the umpire (you cannot be runout if not attempting a run). However, this may just have unsettled the batsmen. Zamam Akhtar dropped one short, Bean pulled, and Ben Charlesworth took a fine, tumbling catch on the boundary. Finlay Bean out for 114, just short of his First Class best score of 118. 243-4 and the match still moving on like an express train.

Luck was not quite on the side of the bowlers, though. George Hill edged Zafar inches short of Slip and Gloucestershire were agonisingly close to making it 251-5 and starting to get some control. Instead, Yorkshire started to build again. 273-4 at Tea, Hill 77*, Tattershall 25*.

Post-Tea, it was a matter of steady accumulation and grinding down the bowlers. Up came the 300 and the second batting point. The scoring slowed, but the landmarks came: the Tattershaw 50 with a somewhat ungainly pull for four off Tom Price. Hill’s century followed soon after with a clip off his legs to Ben Charlesworth on the Square Leg boundary (177 balls, 13x4, 2x6). Yorkshire closing on the 350 as the second New Ball approached. Charlesworth offered too much width and was cut to the boundary to bring up the 350, two overs before the New Ball was due. With 1-59 from 9 overs, Charlesworth was struggling in the fourth seamer role and presenting the captain with a problem as he could use Charlesworth to block up an end and rest the main seamers. This though was an opportunity for Ollie Price, who came back just before that second New Ball. Hill edged him through to a jubilant James Bracey. 354-5. A bonus wicket on what was proving to be a tough day and Ollie Price with two excellent catches and a wicket to boot.

The second New Ball was taken immediately and given to Zaman Akhtar, a sign of the struggles of Tom Price, who you would have been expected to be offered it first. Fifth ball, he took the edge of Revis’ bat but, again, the ball dropped just short of Second Slip. However, the second New Ball did bring a wicket as the admirably persistent Matt Taylor, who was both economical and threatening, got the edge from Tattersall and Ollie Price brought off yet another excellent catch at Second Slip: 368-6 and a second bowling point.

The floodlights were beginning to shine more and more brightly and, inevitably, 8.4 overs into the second New Ball, the heavens opened and a the groundstaff scampered to protect the wicket. 388-6.

The shower was short and sharp, and after a quick clean-up, the players came out for 2.2 overs and five more runs added. 393-6 at the Close, with the ground bathed in bright sunshine once again.  Maybe not Gloucestershire’s worst day of the season, but far from their best and a substantial score already for the batting to chase and still three wickets to take with overs running out for full batting points. Matt Taylor, with 17-7-43-3, by far the best of the bowlers.

Day 2

When I posted the Day 1 report on social media, one loyal fan came straight back with “yes, it’s a season of struggle, isn’t it?” Certainly, although not plumbing the depths of despair that the supporters felt at this stage last season, it’s not what we had hoped for. Those promising positions of early season in which you felt that only rain robbed the team of a couple of wins have changed into positions where you hope that rain will come back and save the team (stick with that thought: it could happen). At times on Day 1 it looked like a battle between two sides short on confidence who were desperate to attack at any cost. The attack at all costs theme continued, but Gloucestershire were less successful at executing it than their hosts. Another day, another fine mess… but hope of salvation is still there.

It's a truism in sport and, in particular, in cricket, that eight players can carry three, but three players cannot carry eight. Even the great West Indian side of the 1980s had players like Milton Small and Larry Gomes who have been forgotten by 99% of fans, while even Allan Border could not carry the Australian side of 1981. There are some fine players with (deserved) international caps in this current Gloucestershire side, but three seasons of constant injury crises causing an XI that chops and changes from match to match in an attempt to paper over the cracks is no way of building confidence, or of nursing players back to form.

Today’s problem was to take three wickets quickly for full bowling points, limit the damage, hopefully to around 450 and then bat well in what should be favourable conditions. Yorkshire had the fifth batting point in sight. Bright sunshine. Matt Taylor with the still fairly new ball.

Matthew Revis opened with three runs from a ball guided to Third Man, but it took just two more deliveries for Matt Taylor to induce an edge from Matt Fisher that James Bracey pocketed gleefully. A wicket with the fifth ball of the morning! Unfortunately, Matthew Revis was still there and built a handy partnership with Dom Leech. After a quiet start, he warmed to his task with boundaries off Matt Taylor and Zafar then reached his 50 (86 balls) with a single of Charlesworth. When Zafar strayed down leg, Revis launched him far over Square Leg. That left 4 overs for bonus points, the score 442-7. Gloucestershire needed a miracle to get the third batting point, while Yorkshire knew that they would get the final batting point just pushing for singles. The talk now, given that rain was expected on Days 3 & 4, was more about when the declaration might come. On came Ollie Price to try his luck. He broke the stand – two balls after the 110 overs had ended – thanks to a stupendous catch from Miles Hammond, who took a one-handed grab, diving to his right. Meanwhile, in other news, the 50 partnership had come up and then the 450 with a slog from Leech that could have gone almost anywhere but ended up flying over Mid-On. Was this the start of a push for a declaration? There was a flurry of boundaries but then, again, the pace slowed as the 500 approached with Ollie Price and Graeme van Buuren getting through overs rapidly in tandem.

Enough of this frivolity, decided Revis, who carted GvB over Wide Mid-On for six and, next ball, sent a delicate dab down to Third Man for a boundary. His point made, it was back to the singles to bring up the 500 in the 117^th over. From there, until Lunch, every scoring shot but one off the bat was a single.

531-8 from 124 overs at the break. Matthew Revis on a menacing 94* and the looming suspicion that, unless he falls soon, Yorkshire would try to push on to 580-600 before declaring.

The afternoon started with the Gloucestershire “Z-formation”: Zaman followed by Zafar. Once again, the session started well, although it took eight deliveries, instead of the five of the morning session to take a wicket. A quiet over from Zaman, then Mark Steketee danced down the wicket to Zafar, was completely done in the air and James Bracey had the bails off in a flash. 534-9.

Matthew Revis was way past his previous First Class best and, on 99*, produced a sumptuous Cover Drive off Zafar to reach his century from 162 balls. Dan Moriarty then got off the mark with a superb drive all along the ground through Mid-Off to bring up the 550 and, finally, after 130 overs, the declaration came.

So, the pitch had dried out. The green tinge had almost disappeared. Could Ben Charlesworth and Chris Dent make use of it?

Just six runs from the first five overs as the batsmen started cautiously. Four Slips waiting hungrily. Chris Dent pulled Leech through Square Leg and the cracked a very wide delivery through Point for two boundaries in an over in the first signs of aggression. With Ben Charlesworth acting as sheet anchor, Chris Dent went for his shots, outscoring his partner 3-to-1, going hard at anything too wide. It was the wide ball that was his downfall: he drove hard at Dom Leech and edged the ball straight into the midriff of Alex Lees at Second Slip. 45-1, Dent 34 and another promising start cut short, taking his season’s total to 315 runs at 26.3.

Fifty up in the 17^th over. Could Charlesworth and Roelofsen take advantage? Eleven from a Leech over as Ben Charlesworth cut consecutive boundaries through Point, then hit a massive six back over Dan Moriarty’s head. Moriarty has an unusual approach, running a few steps, then stopping and walking before jogging into his delivery stride. He was generating respect. Just two scoring shots – one of them that six – had come from his first four overs. Roelofsen pressed forward against him, missed, and was pinned right in front of middle. 80-2, Tea and some of the shine was coming off the start.

In came Miles Hammond, a player who needed a big score after a rather mediocre first half of the season.

Flat pitch. Men around the bat for Dan Moriarty. What would Ben Charlesworth do? The answer was to jump down the pitch and hammer the ball past the Silly Point, who must have felt the wind as it passed. The next delivery was cut the other side of Silly Point, who was surely thinking that there are better ways to pass an afternoon than be a coconut in a coconut shy. Charlesworth, though, went for one shot too many and edged to Slip. The batsman stood his ground, thinking that it was a bump ball. The umpires consulted and Charlesworth was sent on his way. 93-3. Charlesworth 35 and another nice start cut short.

The score continued to advance rapidly, if not at quite such a pace as yesterday. Graeme van Buuren unleashed a straight drive for four followed by a six over Cover as he tried to hit Moriarty off his length. The theory was fine, the practice was something else: another big shot, a thin edge, and a fumble from Tattersall, but the ball dropped back into his glove. Moriarty with 3-33, 125-4 and Gloucestershire in familiar trouble. Runs coming at 4-an-over, but wickets falling. Still the attack was taken to Moriarty. Miles Hammond was the next to dance down the pitch and launch him back over his head for six. Up came the 150 in the 37^th over: just 301 more needed to avoid the Follow-On. Another skip down the pitch and Miles Hammond launched another big six back over Dan Moriarty to go to 39 and have top score in the innings so far. You would have bet good money that if Miles Hammond got to his 50, it would be with a six of Dan Moriarty. It was. Thumped over the Covers. Adam Lyth came on to twiddle some occasional off-spin and Miles Hammond sent him into the stands at Long-On to move to 64 from 70 balls. The 200 up in the 46^th over, with James Bracey batting nicely in support.

With Moriarty in front of him, could Sherlock Hammond solve the case of the missing centuries? Eleven overs to the Close, stand at 75. Don’t give it away now.

Eleven off an over from Leech, including a boundary from a horrible misfield and Hammond had Lyth in his sights again. Whack over Long On. Hammond on 74. If only someone would stay with him.  James Bracey was batting so confidently but was deceived by a bit of turn from Lyth and edged to Slip. 44 and yet another batsman who could not make a start count. 221-5. Not what the team needed shortly before the Close.

Miles Hammond reached 79 from 81 deliveries with yet another boundary and could have reached his century by the Close, but he and Price decided the discretion was the better part of valour and wisely slammed on the brakes.

232-5. Hammond on 84*, Ollie Price 1*. And rain forecast for the ‘morrow. For once, rain will be eagerly anticipated and cheered.

If a lot of time is lost there is even an intriguing prospect that Yorkshire could try to set up a chase of perhaps 350 on the last day.

Day 3

Heavy rain and the first session hit on its head quite quickly. Everything depended now on how much rain fell and for how long, but with three potential end-games:

·       Yorkshire go for the innings win. The last 5 wickets fall. Yorkshire enforce the Follow-On and try to bowl out Gloucestershire again on the final day.

·       The captains agree to set something up. Gloucestershire declare behind after obtaining 2/3 batting points. Yorkshire go for quick runs to set up a chase.

·       Gloucestershire save the Follow-On and the match fizzles out.

A 14:15 start. One session lost. 62 overs to bowl. The light, gloomy.

Gloucestershire played positively from the start. Miles Hammond was quickly into the 90s with a big six over Long Off from the second delivery of the day, Dan Moriarty again the victim. That was his seventh of the innings in addition to his 5x4. He then went for an eighth and was caught just inside the Long On boundary. It was not the brightest cricket, and the mystery of the missing Hammond centuries remains, but it was still an excellent innings. However, at 246-6, 304 behind, Route 1 seemed to be the most likely way to get a result. The business of obtaining any batting points, was again falling to the tail and Yorkshire were anticipating a quick finish to the innings. With the shadows of the floodlights dark and the umpires getting twitchy, off came Matt Fisher and on came Adam Lyth. The message was obvious: bowl your spinners or we go off.

Ollie Price must have been very close to falling LBW to Lyth but then, next ball, received a filthy delivery that was very wide indeed. Using his long reach, he just about got to it and flat-batted it through the Covers to bring up the 250 and the first batting point. Soon after, when Dan Moriarty gave him one in his zone, Ollie Price joined the “I’ve hit a six off Dan” Club, the ball hammering into the advertising boards at Long Off. The 50 stand came up with a reverse sweep by Ollie, who was batting really well and in the same over, a single from Tom Price for a shot that almost went to hand brought up the 300 and the second batting point. Shortly after that, the players were off for bad light at 300-6.

It was to presage an afternoon of “on-off” hokey-cokey.

The delay was not a long one and the sides were back out rapidly. Immediately the Prices set about reducing the deficit. An on-drive for three brought up Ollie’s 50. Sixteen from a Steketee over – three consecutive boundaries and a ball sprayed down leg for four byes – took Ollie to 70 and helped to bring the 350 closer and three boundaries in the following over from Matt Fisher for Tom Price saw the third batting point come up and the deficit drop under 200. A lovely drive just past the stumps brought four more to Tom Price. Consecutive overs had gone now for 16, 12 and 14 runs. The hundred partnership came up in a blaze of runs.

369-6 at Tea. 181 behind. The partnership 123. Ollie 75*. Tom 37*.

Back out after Tea, it wasn’t “Blazing Saddles” with John Wayne, it was more blazing floodlights and blazing bats with Tom and Ollie. And a tactical decision was coming up: the Follow-On looked certain to be saved; should Gloucestershire try for the 5^th batting point and declare to force Yorkshire to try to score quick runs?

The batmen were seeing the ball well enough, but out came the light meter and off they trooped once more. 384-6. Ollie 82*, Tom 45*, 17 to avoid the Follow-On.

It looked terminal but, at 17:20, off came the covers and back on came the players. Time, though, was running out to reach 450 and declare and get some overs in before the Close. The draw loomed ever-larger. A Square Cut for a boundary took Ollie into the 90s, the score to 398, and brought up the 150 partnership. Successive straight drives had been stopped by a diving Mid-On but, finally, Tom hit one a bit straighter, just out of his grasp, to bring up his 50, the 400, save the Follow-On and add the 4^th batting point: good value for a single shot. The next delivery was hooked imperiously into the stand at Square Leg. Tom then made a cross-batted swipe to the next ball and had his stumps re-arranged to give a no-nonsense sequence of 4 6 W. 408-7.

Zafar did not last long. He ducked a bouncer “periscope up” and glanced the ball to the ‘keeper. 413-8. 12 overs left, 17 remaining to get 37 runs for a 5^th batting point. Ollie had his First Class best score: could he make it a century? A clip off his legs was stopped on the boundary and took him to 96. Then a single. 97. Matt Taylor guided the ball through Third Man for four, then was hit by the last ball of the over. That persuaded the umpires to check the light again and off they went. 421-8, Ollie 97*. And that was that.

With potentially only 92 overs left if there are two changes of innings and a sleeping pitch, a draw now seems inevitable. Gloucestershire will now surely bat on to try to see Ollie Price to his century and to get the 5^th batting point. It is hard to see how, without declaration bowling, Yorkshire can get far enough ahead to set up a realistic chase. Any declaration target would need to be something like 350 from 70 overs: it is hard to see it happening now.

Day 4

Had Gloucester been bowled out perhaps 180 behind we might have got an interesting finish with Yorkshire batting again to chase quick runs and give their bowlers a rest. Gloucestershire’s success with the bat has, ironically, removed their slight chance of a win in a last day chase. The only realistic course now is to bat on for the 5^th batting point, if possible, with Yorkshire looking for a third bowling point and to accept the draw. Even with declaration bowling, it is hard to see how a target can be set and time enough left on a completely placid pitch to bowl a side out. A declaration game can, realistically, only be won by Gloucestershire, so there would be no incentive for Yorkshire to set one up.

Another grey day, although some blue sky was visible and there was an on-time start. Ollie Price on strike and on 97. Four defensive strokes, a ball down leg, a glance and the ball rocketed to the boundary to bring up the century 145 balls (15x4, 1x6). What a find the Price brothers have been.

First ball of the second over of the day Matt Taylor gave a thick edge to 1^st Slip and Yorkshire had their 3^rd bowling point. Gloucestershire were not showing the urgency that suggested that something had been agreed but advancing steadily in search of 450. A lovely straight drive from Zaman Akhtar took him to 11 and the score to 437-9. The sight of a #11 batting comfortably was enough to suggest that no way would 10 wickets fall in the day, let alone 20!

A Cover Drive from Zaman Akhtar and up came the 450 and maximum batting points in the 102^nd over. Ollie Price then edged the last ball of the over, just past Slip, for 3, Finlay Bean producing a fine diving stop on the rope. This was the logical moment to pull out had the captains agreed anything but dream on… they batted on. Seeing Zaman Akhtar make his First Class best score with some ease showed that this pitch remained a bowlers’ graveyard. Finally, Ollie Price played a swipe at Moriarty and lost his leg stump. No red-inker for Ollie. 113 and the Shire 464ao. Dan Moriarty with 5-139.

To make a game of it, Yorkshire would need to be bowled out for no more than 150. It was not going to happen.

Five overs were enough to show that the two sides had agreed the draw. No rush from the batsmen at all. And no great encouragement for the bowlers, although the ball was doing a little more in the overcast conditions. Tom Price was looking livelier and went past the outside edge of Bean’s bat, producing a huge shout that was turned down. At 29-0 from 10 overs, the match was going nowhere. Zafar had loud appeals for bat-pad catches by Miles Hammoind at Short Forward Square Leg (correctly) turned down from consecutive Zafar deliveries, but really, there was little to get excited about.

72-0 from 18 overs at Lunch and rain expected later.

There was just enough in the pitch that if Zafar could keep it very tight, he had a chance of something. Plenty of balls were flying into the air off the pad and being appealed for enthusiastically. Finally, just three balls into the afternoon session, one did take the edge. Bobby Bracey juggled it and caught the rebound. Bean out for 38. 73-1. He almost got a second when Shan Masood top-edged a reverse sweep and the ball dropped just short of the diving Ben Charlesworth running in from the boundary. Adam Lyth reached his 50 and then edged Zaman Akhtar low to Slip where Ollie Price took a good, tumbling catch. In the next over Shan Masood tried and missed consecutive reverse sweeps off Zafar: the second flattened middle stump. Zafar was delighted, the score was 135-3 and the wilder optimists were wondering if this was the start of a declaration charge. However, the skies were getting darker, the floodlights were on, and the forecast rain seemed to be getting closer.

Finally, at 148-3, the umpires decided that the light had got too bad, and the covers came on, followed shortly after by rain and the large sheets. With just 50 overs to go and the lead 234, there seemed to be little point in coming back on later.

Early Tea and a re-start at 15:40, with 43 overs to play. Gloucestershire searching for wickets to end on a positive note. Ironically, now there was some real help for Zafar, who beat Dawid Malan all ends up with a delivery that turned sharply: the ball slid through for four byes, the ‘keeper unsighted. To the next ball, he swept and missed. The three-card trick was completed by another sharply turning delivery that he tried to cut, inside edged and Bracey caught after a little juggle. 160-4. Ben Charlesworth came on and, first ball, Jonny Tattersall edged, and Ollie Price took the catch at the second attempt. 161-5, 38.5 overs left, 247 the lead. Another quick wicket and perhaps Yorkshire might have got nervous. Hill and Revis had other ideas and brought up the 200. 31 overs left. Can we go home now? After handing over his glasses to the umpire, Chris Dent came on to bowl, apparently seam-up. Third ball, George Hill edged, Ollie Price caught. Hill sank to his knees in disbelief. Chris Dent held his face in his hands. It was only missing a McEnroe-like cry of “you cannot be SERIOUS!” This was Chris Dent’s first, First Class wicket for four years.

A few spots of rain came down. Had there been anything hanging on the match they would have stayed on, but it gave Yorkshire the chance to declare at 16:50, by which point the covers were off again. The nominal target was 289 from 28 overs, but the captains had the good sense to shake hands instead.

12 points for Gloucestershire and some confidence from, again, holding the initiative at the end. A maiden century, two wickets and five catches for Ollie Price. Another fifty for his brother. Signs that Gloucestershire had a handy pair of all-rounders developing.

County Championship Round 7: Gloucestershire v Leicestershire

 

 

County Championship Round 7

Gloucestershire v Leicestershire

Preview

Halfway point of the season and a game that, looking at the fixture list, Gloucestershire would have seen as one that they would expect to win. With games running out, a run of two or three wins is needed sooner rather than later. Of course, with the strange goings-on involving Jupiter Pluvius and Gloucestershire’s consequent remarkable drought-breaking abilities, opportunities to win games have been scarce. However, so few have been the positive results in the whole Division that two wins would lift the Shire into the top three.

The Gloucestershire injury crisis has almost matched the Gloucestershire rain crisis in Biblical plague proportions. The latest blow is the loss of the New Ball enforcer – Marchant de Lange – out for the rest of the season. David Payne is still feeling his way back to fitness in the Blast, but Graeme van Buuren, Chris Dent, Tom Price and Ajeet Dale are all back. The most interesting decision may be the potential fight between Joe Phillips (promoted from the 2^nd XI) and loan signing from Lancashire, Danny Lamb, for a place in the final XI.   

Day 1

In the end, Danny Lamb got the final place, his all-round abilities earning him the nod. It meant the Shire going into the game with four seamers plus Zafar. Even though a non-specialist bat would be playing at #7, the tail has a more solid look, with 7, 8 and 9 all capable batsmen.

GvB won the Toss and decided to bat. For about forty minutes all went well: Chris Dent and Ben Charlesworth batted capably and reached 38-0. While Chris Wright was treated with the utmost respect, Chris Dent took a liking to Josh Hull, crashing his first two overs for five boundaries, with his second over going for 18 runs. Down came the rain and off went the players for three hours. Another session and a half of play lost. Unfortunately, the rain allowed Chris Wright to bowl twelve overs off the reel and, not long after Ben Charlesworth, who has shaped-up superbly as a stand-in for Marcus Harris, brought up the 50 with yet another boundary off Josh Hull, Wright pinned Dent LBW with a fine delivery. 55-1. Dent out for 29 and still averaging just 26 this season.

Ben Charlesworth clipped Scriven straight to the fielder behind leg who had been placed there specifically for the shot: 78-2, Charlesworth 21. Then Miles Hammond got a ball from Callum Parkinson that turned a long way past his defensive bat: 83-3 and a duck for Hammond. The decision to bat first was beginning to look more debatable.

In the end, GvB and Ollie Price steadied the ship and took the side through to the Close at 108-3. Just 36 overs bowled. The equivalent of two full sessions lost.

Day 2

With Ollie Price and GvB batting confidently at the Close, hopes of a big total rested with them staying there for a good while. What no one needed was for the Captain to edge the first ball of the day to the ‘keeper. Chris Wright was now on figures of 12.1-6-17-2, while his captain must have wished that Wright could bowl at both ends. As he could not, Ollie Price continued to punish the erratic Josh Hull, but neither could he bat at both ends. Wright got a ball through James Bracey, who looked dead in the water when it hit his pad: 118-5, Bracey out for 1 and Wright now on the remarkable figures of 15-7-19-3.

You could be forgiven a sinking feeling of “here we go again”. What happened afterwards was, first an apparent demonstration that the fatalists among the supporters had it right – several rain delays and a subsidence – followed by a quite extraordinary recovery that left the fans blinking with disbelief.

Ollie Price hit Josh Hull out of the attack again and, when Callum Parkinson came back, took nine from the over, bringing up up the 150. With Tom Price, now described as an all-rounder, batting confidently, the fifty partnership between the brothers was approaching at 4-an-over when Sciven had Tom Price caught for 20: 168-6 and hopes of a batting point receding.

Zafar is though a very useful #8 and with Ollie Price batting aggressively and beautifully, the two brought up the 50 partnership, Zafar playing an unaccustomed anchor role. Ollie was past his First Class best and looking odds-on for a deserved century when he, unexpectedly, edged Hull through to the ‘keeper and departed for 85. Zafar departed soon afterwards, just before the New Ball was due and, at 222-8, Leicestershire must have expected to be batting soon, chasing a very under par first innings score.

Twenty-eight runs for the batting point. Maybe a prayer would help.

The New Ball thrust came and went. Ajeet Dale, who has developed so much this season and shown that he could even become a useful batsman, took Scriven who was pressed into service with the New Ball, for ten in his first over. Back came Josh Hull and, after a first over to Ajeet Dale that was a near maiden of boundaries (just the one), Danny Lamb took him for 14 in his second over that included an edged six over the Slips to bring up the 250 and a batting point.

Initially, the stand grew slowly, and the target became more ambitious: maybe these two could get a second batting point? The batsmen grew in confidence. Twelve runs from a Rehan over, including a thumped six from Danny Lamb, took the score to 298. Leicestershire were beginning to look a little shell-shocked, but worse was to follow for them.

The 300 and second batting point came up in the 99^th over. With eleven overs left for bonus points, Gloucestershire needed 50 for their third batting point, Leicestershire needed a wicket for their third bowling point. Runs started to flow freely and, with just four overs left for bonus points, it looked far more likely that Gloucestershire would get their third than would Leicestershire. If you had suggested that at 222-8, people would just have looked at you pityingly.

Lamb’s 50 had come up with another six off Callum Parkinson. He then brought up the hundred partnership with a boundary and a single. Extraordinary stuff to watch.

Ajeet Dale was into the 40s when Danny Lamb went for one shot to many and fell for a superb 70 (5x4, 3x6). Zaman Akhter has no real pretensions as a batsman but creamed his first ball from Josh Hull for a boundary, giving Ajeet Dale confidence that his partner would hang around to see him to his own 50. A boundary to Dale brought up the 350 and third batting point with eight balls to spare.

With the Close approaching, the weather threatening (some huge rolls of thunder could be heard) and the likelihood of a declaration if Ajeet Dale got his maiden fifty, all eyes were on the balcony. Finally, he reached the landmark with a two off Rehan (90 balls, 6x4) and the whole balcony gave him a standing ovation. Finally, knowing that the declaration would come at the end of the 113^th over, he charged down the pitch to Callum Parkinson, missed completed and was stumped by miles.

368ao. A tale of the unexpected. The last two wickets added 146 runs.

Leicestershire had five overs to face. A wicket would have made a perfect ending to the day but, to be honest, the New Ball spell from Tom Price and Ajeet Dale was not threatening. 23-0 at the Close.

With the occasional ball keeping low or doing a lot for the seamers, Gloucestershire should have a chance of building a very strong position on Day 3 but, the Shire’s biggest enemy may be losing yet more time. The first task will be to use the New Ball better in the morning.

Day 3

Another odd day at Bristol, but now we are getting used to such things. No intervention from Jupiter Pluvius, but still a ten-minute delay in mid-afternoon due to a fire alarm, which came just as a wicket fell, leading to some confusion as to whether the ball was still live when the catch was executed (it was). Then, the oddest of odd dismissals, as a stand that was threatening to put Leicestershire right on top, was ended when Louis Kimber edged the ball into the ground and tried to catch the rebound. The players, who knew the law appealed. The commentator, who has done Level 1 and Level 2 umpiring courses, called the wicket. The umpires conferred. And very, very reluctantly, Kimber walked.

In the end, though, it is hard to see any other result than a pretty tedious draw.

However, be didn’t know all this at 11am. Nor could we guess that two very young players would be the heroes of the day with the ball.

Gloucestershire’s task was to take wickets with the New Ball, dismiss Leicestershire in about two sessions and set out to increase the lead as much as possible by the Close. Leicestershire would have harboured thoughts of batting all day and having a go on the fourth morning to score quick runs, looking for a lead of 100-150. Any other outcome to the day looked an assured route to a draw. Given that the pitch showed every sign of getting slower and more friendly and that the overhead conditions were also batsman friendly, you wondered where 30 wickets might come from in just six sessions of play.

A quiet start – a maiden from Ajeet Dale – gave no warning of what was to come. After five runs from the first three overs, Rishi Patel launched into Tom Price and the still new ball with a four and a six and then a brace of boundaries off Ajeet Dale. Three boundaries from another Dale over as Sol Budinger took his cue from Patel. Leicestershire racing along. 66-0 from 13 overs and a problem for Graeme van Buuren.

On came Danny Lamb and the boundaries kept coming. GvB made it a double change by calling-up Zaman Akhter who, seeing how the ball was sailing to all parts, was probably not trying to catch the captain’s eye. New guard for Sol Budinger. Ball well outside off that kept low. Wild slash from the batsman and James Bracey pocketed an edge that barely carried. A wicket first ball and a wicket maiden. With Danny Lamb offering no threat, GvB was only going to do one thing: toss the ball to Zafar. Rishi Patel had his 50 and was looking dangerous. Two immaculate forward defensives and then a ball launched far over the bowler’s head for six. Poor Zafar must have wondered if Monday in Multan might be better than Monday in Bristol if all the pitches were going to be like this.

Fortunately, Zaman Akhtar was bowling like a demon at the other end and showing that there was reward for a bowler with extra pace who was willing to put his back into it. First ball of his fourth over. Regulation edge from Patel and Ollie Price took a good, low catch at Second Slip. 85-2 and, if one or two could be nipped out before Lunch, Gloucestershire could eat with real cheer. Akhtar came off with figures of 5-3-5-2 and reality hit home again. By Lunch, it was obvious that a day of hard graft beckoned.

When they came back out, Lewis Hill and Colin Ackermann added 66. Ball outside off from Akhtar. Wild slash from Ackermann and an easy catch at First Slip for Ben Charlesworth. 151-3… or was it? A fire alarm had gone off in the pavilion. Play was halted and the scoreboard did not show the wicket. Had the ball been dead when edged? No. The alarm went off some seconds later and, it seems, the scoreboard operator was distracted by the whooping and the public address advising “this is an emergency” and was being evacuated. Eventually the scoreboard caught up with events on the field of play. Fortunately, although Zaman Akhtar was on fire on the pitch, Ed Seabourne and the BBC commentary team were not on fire in the Pavilion. A short delay and another partnership when play resumed. This time Handscomb with Lewis Hill. GvB turned to Ollie Price, his seventh bowler, in tandem with Zafar. The game was appearing to drift.

Ollie Price, as he showed even in his debut match, a couple of seasons back, has a nice action, is tall and, even though he is learning his trade, looks like a potential batting all-rounder. Handscomb played a crabbed shot to one that came in a little, missed and the ball hit off. Ollie Price was delighted. His captain was delighted. 193-4. Would that be the breakthrough?

In came Louis Kimber and another 50 partnership built. There was a growing sense of wondering where another wicket would come from. 233-4 at Tea and the alarming prospect of a significant Leicestershire lead.

Of course, if it was not Zaman Akhtar bowling, it had to be Ollie Price when something happened. New Ball approaching. Men around the bat for Zafar. Nothing doing. The turn was so slow that unless he pitched it on a sixpence there was not threat. A bit of a distraction as Ollie Price moved his field around mid-over. Chris Dent pulled over to the leg side, creating a tempting gap in the Covers. Then an innocuous delivery, save that his height got a bit of extra bounce. Kimber played the ball into the pitch at his feet and, as if fearing that it would bounce back onto his stumps – it was not going to – he went to catch the ball and then, realising what he was doing, dropped it quickly. Dan Whiting was quick to point out that it had to be out. Ollie Price asked the question and, under the change in the law, the umpires gave it as “Obstructing the field” (handled ball no longer exists). It was the oddest of brain-fades.

In came Rehan Ahmed. Along came the New Ball and, again, the scoring accelerated and yet another fifty partnership came in under ten overs and, with it, the 300. 87 overs gone. The real threat of finishing with just a single bowling point as Lewis Hill completed a patient century from 205 balls. The ball was tossed to Zaman Akhter who produced a brute of a first delivery that Ahmed could only fend to Ollie Price at Second Slip, who took it diving forward. 309-6.

Lewis Hill started to farm the strike and was the key to a decent Leicestershire lead. There was even the option, with 17 overs left for bonus points and 74 needed, for Hill to start to hit out and chase 400 and the fourth batting point. Ollie Price came back with a still hard and quite new ball. Second delivery, he tossed one up and Lewis Hill, who had been taking his bottom hand off the bat when driving, as if in pain, did it again and patted the ball gently, lobbing it back to the bowler to depart for 103. 326-7.

For the first time in the day, the bowlers were on top. Chris Wright lasted just five deliveries before a delighted Zafar got him stone dead, sweeping. Zafar had bowled well on a benign surface for no reward at all. 327-8. An unexpected Gloucestershire lead looking almost certain and, as the batsmen trudged off, Ben Charlesworth stood at the crease and rehearsed batting against the New Ball knowing that he might be facing it in just a few minutes. That was professionalism.

Callum Parkinson came in. Zafar turned one sharply past his bat and, a couple of balls later, completed a wicket maiden by catching the edge and watching Ollie Price – who else? – take an easy catch. That was 333-9. Full bowling points for the Shire. Leicestershire still short of their third batting point. Forty minutes earlier, you would have got decent odds on the fourth batting point for the latter and just two bowling points for the former.

The score crept up as Scriven took what runs were available. Zaman Akhtar was tiring visibly. Back came Ollie Price. A misdirected ball down leg that also turned brought up four byes and the 350. Final ball of his over he delivered a shortish ball that turned a little and kept low. Scriven swept, missed, and was given LBW and Ollie ended with 3-40.

With just three overs until the Close the order of the day was not to lose a wicket. Seven of the nine runs came as extras. No real alarms.

Gloucestershire 27 ahead and a draw looking almost certain unless there is some really awful batting tomorrow.

Day 4

What did I say about awful batting bringing a result? When you are 136-2, 154 ahead, five minutes before Lunch, you should not be bowled out for 202 and lose by a comfortable margin. It was pretty sobering viewing.

It will be Division 2 cricket at Bristol in 2024 and the main task in the second half of the season will be to avoid the wooden spoon.

94 overs to play because two would be lost for change of innings unless Gloucestershire batted all day. Scores almost at parity. And speculation that there could be some declaration bowling for maybe ten overs and a chase of 260-280 in about 55 overs. On the negative side, there has been variable bounce and forcing batting had not been easy at any time so far, which is not ideal for a chase.

Either way, there were few signs of aggressivity in the first twenty minutes, as the score advanced thanks mainly to No Balls. Callum Parkinson then turned a ball prodigiously from very wide of off and, as if disconcerted, Ben Charlesworth edged the next ball, giving Slip a very sharp catch. 23-1.

Chris Dent has not been in sparkling form this season but showed the first signs of aggression with a brace of boundaries off Chris Wright, both driven hard through the Covers. Ollie Price then flashed hard at Callum Parkinson and took a pair of boundaries in the over. Josh Hull replaced Wright and Dent creamed his first and third deliveries (both buffet balls) through Point for boundaries. Six fours in eleven balls and, suddenly the batsmen were flying. Josh Hull then gave him a yorker that appeared to be doing down leg. Dent missed and was given, LBW. 48-2 and, Chris Dent, probably very unlucky.

It should have been 48-3. Miles Hammond, possibly seeing the turn and wanting to negate it, gave Parkinson the charge and missed. Handscomb gathered cleanly, tried to take off the bails and missed. Hammond was still flailing to get back as Handscomb tried again and missed the stumps a second time. Miles Hammond survived… somehow. Odd things were starting to happen. Josh Hull dropped one ball very short down leg that barely lifted and bounced twice on its way down the pitch. Then a ball on the stumps from Parkinson turned viciously, lifted, and went through where Second Slip would have been for four byes. A second delivery in the same over also showed huge turn. One wondered what Zafar was thinking watching this having laboured so hard with so little encouragement. Could he get the chance later in the day of applying some real pressure and inducing a collapse?

With 75 overs to go, the lead was 110. Even though the run-rate was approaching 4-an-over, there was no real sign of a dash for runs and the whole time/runs equation was getting increasingly unfavourable for a realistic declaration. Even so, when bad balls came (and to be honest, Hull and Scriven offered plenty of them), they were hit… if they could be reached (often enough, they could not be). Miles Hammond hammered Scriven high and handsome back over his head for six and followed up with a more conventional boundary: 14 off the over; was this the start of a push?

The appearance of trick shots such as the reverse sweep suggested that the batsmen were going to give it a try. Miles Hammond raced past Ollie Price, who was becalmed in the low 30s. just as he looked set to get another nice 50, he played across the line to the less than lethal spin of Hylton Ackermann and was bowled for 48. 132-3 and a blow to Gloucestershire’s chances of a quick post-Lunch dash.

Lunch was taken at 136-3. The lead 154. 65 overs to come. Would 270 in 50 overs be realistic? Even so, bowling out a side in just 50 overs looked unlikely on a still largely benign surface.

The path to a declaration got even narrower straight after Lunch when Ollie Price fell too, moving way outside off to paddle-sweep Parkinson straight into the hands of the man behind Square. 144-4. In came James Bracey, in need of runs, in a situation where he had to attack at once. He lasted seven balls, going for a sweep and popping a gentle top edge into the gloves of the ‘keeper. 154-5, the lead 172 and overs running out.

Realistically, at 157-5, with 60 overs left and the lead 175, Gloucestershire need to add at least 90 in 10 overs to be able to declare. The other possibility was that Leicestershire could have thoughts of bowling the Shire out and, when Graeme van Buuren cut a wide ball from Chris Wright straight into the hands of the waiting fielder, that became a real possibility: 162-6, the lead 180 and 58 overs to go.

Did no one see the danger?

When surely the only sensible move was to shut up shop, the scramble for quick runs was kept up and the slide continued. Zafar chased a wide one from Wright and edged to the ‘keeper. In came Danny Lamb and got a superb leg-cutter, second ball. 170-8. Five wickets had fallen for 26 and the overs/runs equation was getting very favourable for a chase. The money was inclining ever more rapidly towards a Leicestershire win.

Ajeet Dale then lobbed a catch to give Chris Wright a fourth wicket. 132-2 had become 176-9. Regular drinks were coming out to Tom Price, presumably with instructions. Would he be told to block for as long as possible? Thirteen came from a Chris Wright over, which did not look like safety first. It also pushed the required run-rate in any chase over 4. 220 to chase from 50 overs? It could be interesting, but only if the bowling were very tight. The 200 came up and the 220 lead before Tom Price swiped one straight down Long On’s throat.

So, 221 the target. 47 overs to go. 4.70 the run-rate required. You would think that the chasing side would fancy their chances.

There was time for eight overs before Tea. Even after a maiden first over and slowing for the last two before the break, the batsmen were scoring at better than a run-a-ball and looking set to win with plenty to spare. The odd delivery from Zafar, who took the New Ball, turned prodigiously, but runs came disconcertingly fast. The bowling looked dispirited by the sudden turnaround in fortunes and the fielding quickly got ragged after Tea.

Luck was not running the way of the Shire. Zafar had had one massive appeal for LBW rejected to a ball the turned square. Then, to just the third ball after Tea Sol Budinger appeared to turn a ball to Ben Charlesworth, very close at Short Forward Square Leg. Charlesworth dived, took a brilliant catch. Budinger stayed his ground and got the benefit of the doubt. The slow motion replay suggested that maybe the ball just beat the inside edge and ballooned off the pad.

Briefly, in the final session, Zaman Akhter brought some hope. In consecutive overs he got rid of both openers. His first ball was cut through Point for a boundary. To his fifth delivery Patel pulled, got too much elevation and the ball was taken by Danny Lamb. 53-1. To his second delivery of his next over Sol Budinger played a similar shot with an identical result. 56-2.

Another quick wicket and Leicestershire might have wobbled. It almost came from the final ball of the over when Ahmed tried very hard to get an edge to James Bracey from a wide ball that moved further away. A couple of tight overs and more gifts. A loose delivery down leg went for five wides – the umpires were very strict on anything down leg from the spinners – and, in his next over, another well down leg evaded James Bracey and went for two more wides. The pressure that the wickets had brought was vanishing. The hundred came up in the 21^st over with an Ahmed six straight back over Zafar’s head. Between Over 21 and Over 33, there were just two overs with no boundaries. Ahmed and Ackermann were scoring at will. GvB tried himself, brought on Danny Lamb: nothing inconvenienced the batsmen.

With just 24 wanted, 8 wickets in hand and plenty of time to score the runs, we saw what might have been as Leicestershire had the sort of wobble that, an hour earlier, could have cost the dear.

Ahmed and Ackermann had added 141 with insulting ease in 22 overs when Ahmed went for another big shot, miscued, hit the ball miles into the air and Graeme van Buuren took the catch. Danny Lamb’s figures at this point – 1.4-0-17-1 – give an idea of the carnage. In came Peter Handscomb, who had been very untidy with gloves, who proved to be untidy with the bat too: a horrible hack off Zafar and Ben Charlesworth pouched the skied chance. 206-4 and, had the bowlers had 50 more to play with, it could have got very nervy. Instead, it was 15 to win and Danny Lamb served up a juicy ball, offering too much width that Ackermann slapped to the boundary to get the target down to 10. Still, Leicestershire continued to blink. Louis Kimber got a straight yorker, was hit on the back pad and Lamb got the decision. 211-5. Still 10 to win, but Ackermann on 71* and in complete control.

It was Hylton Ackermann who hit the winning run. Leicestershire had chased down their target with ridiculous ease, to win by five wickets with almost six overs to spare.

What went wrong? There were two main problems:

First, the batting. When wickets started to fall, someone should have decided to close-up an end and use up time. There were too few runs to defend in too many overs, but batsman after batsman still sacrificed his wicket going for quick runs.

Then, the bowling. Both Tom Price and Ajeet Dale looked off colour, with combined match figures of 0-191. Both were returning from injury, neither looked fully fit. Eight No Balls between the two, when defending a small target did not help. When your two main strike bowlers in the absence of David Payne, Matt Taylor and Marchant de Lange are unable to generate threat – Tom Price looked little more than medium pace – the New Ball will be, if not wasted, at least used less effectively than it should be. In both innings, Leicestershire got off to a very fast start and gained valuable momentum. Chasing a small target, Leicestershire were helped when Ajeet Dale served up two deliveries that went for four byes and a No Ball that was hit for four in his first three overs. At 43-0 from six overs, the back of the chase had been broken. Lack of bowling discipline with the New Ball was critical.