County Championship Round 3: Hampshire v Gloucestershire

 Preview:

So, the only two sides in the country with a 100% record are to meet in the star encounter in Round 3. Hampshire have blown away Middlesex and Leicestershire. Gloucestershire have, to the surprise and delight of their fans, won hard fought contests against Surrey and Somerset. Not since 1931, we are assured, have the Shire won their first two games. In what is a short season, the winner of this clash would look already to have almost unstoppable momentum towards a top-two finish and a tilt at being County Champions. Everything indicates that this will be the hardest game of the season so far for the energised Shire. It is also a major litmus test of the Shire’s season: in theory, the first two games of the season were the hardest of this first round and, after Hampshire, Middlesex and Leicestershire are lesser tests; of course, the challenge will be to maintain the level and not to slip-up against what appear to be lesser challenges.

So far, five Hampshire batsmen have scored centuries in the first two rounds and a sixth has a fifty in each innings so far, providing a major challenge for the Gloucestershire attack. The Hampshire bowling has been as devastating at the batting led by 12 wickets at 8.9 for Mohammad Abbas, backed-up by 9 wickets @ 20 for Kyle Abbott and 7 at 20.7 for Ben Wheel. Overall, these are numbers that impose respect. And, lest one forgets, there is also a major spin threat: Hampshire leg-spinner Mason Crane also has six wickets, albeit at a slightly more expensive 39.2.

So, Hampshire promise to provide a massive challenge both to the batsmen and the bowlers. Who will the Shire put out against them?

This game brings the first selection crisis of the season. Dan Worrall is in Bristol and available, but will undergo a fitness test before the game, which puts the selectors in an embarrassing situation if he is cleared to play. Gloucestershire are allowed to play two overseas players, but have three on their books. If Dan Worrall and Kraig Brathwaite play, Graeme van Buuren cannot because the paperwork for his qualification by residence is paralysed in the system due to the COVID crisis. Graeme van Buuren, though, had a starring role in the win against Surrey and has done a job as spinner in both games. Without him, Gloucestershire lose their main spin option and a middle-order batsman in prime form. A second issue is that David Payne’s wife could go into labour at any time and, if she does, it is likely that he would withdraw from the squad. This could give Dominic Goodman a chance to retain his place, although Josh Shaw was withdrawn overnight on Monday from the 2^nd XI game v Yorkshire after having taken the new ball on the first day and is added to the squad, as are Tom Smith and Ian Cockbain who were also withdrawn today from the 2nd XI match.

The suggestion is that Graeme van Buuren’s potential absence from the XI is being covered by both Cockbain and Smith – the latter will play if a spinner is required, the former if no – with no fewer than six seamers picked in the squad to cover all eventualities.

Management have made a statement about their ambitions for the season after this good start by signing New Zealand T20 international Glenn Phillips for the Blast. He will also be available as cover for the final two Championship group matches for which Dan Worrall is not available. If a top two finish in the Group is on the cards when we come to those last two games, management have stated that they are prepared to spend to attain it.

 

Day 1:

James Vince won the Toss and decided to bat in the sunshine, so Gloucestershire bowled first for the third time in a row. Gloucestershire made multiple changes, enforced and unenforced. Dan Worrall was passed fit to play, but David Payne was missing from the XI on the day (with more important, family issues on his mind). The call-up of Worrall meant that Graeme van Buuren missed out as third overseas player and was replaced by Ian Cockbain (for his first game since 2018). And Josh Shaw came back in place of George Scott. The good news for GvB is that there are high hopes that his status will change to English-qualified shortly. The outfield, showing the lack of rain in April, was showing signs of turning brown and, without the normal lush grass of spring, was very fast.

The Shire made a bad start with Bobby Bracey seemingly dropping Weatherley, third ball, from Dan Worrall as he dived to his right, although it was hard to tell if it was an edge or a ball that seamed prodigiously. The player reaction seemed to indicate that there was no edge, but the TV images appeared to show an edge that would not have carried to Brathwaite at 1^st Slip. Either way, Worrall was, at least at the start of the day, sometimes getting the ball to move a lot off the pitch. A push to Square Leg by Holland from the last ball of Ryan Higgin’s first over opened the scoring while Dan Worrall got another edge off Weatherley that just fell short of a diving 4^th Slip. Six overs gone, 10-0.

With nothing much happening, James Bracey advanced to the stumps to Ryan Higgins and was surprised by a ball that rose and hit him on the right shoulder. Ten overs gone, 19-0 and Matt Taylor relieved Dan Worrall, whose first spell had been a good one and should have been rewarded with a wicket in his first over. The pitch was looking far better than it had for the Middlesex game and was expected to get easier still, especially on Days 2 & 3. On came Dom Goodman for the 12^th over: straight ball first up, Weatherly played across it, hit in front – 19-1, Weatherly gone for 8. Astonishing. Holland fenced at Matt Taylor outside off, but could not quite get an edge and the ball only just reached James Bracey, again suggesting the easy pace of the pitch. Poor balls were few, accurate bowling was constant and scoring opportunities limited. Dom Goodman dropped one short and it climbed alarmingly, hitting the shoulder of the bat, but ballooning safe. 38-1 from 20 overs. Although the occasional delivery had risen, far more were just barely making it to the wicket-keeper. Attritional cricket.

The 50 came up with a crunching cut to the boundary by Holland of Worrall the end of the 25^th over. Slowly, the batsmen were getting on top, but the run-rate was fixed at 2. With little run-scoring to cut-off, there were three or four slips all morning, but there was little to interest them. 65-1 at Lunch from 32 overs.

The same tonic post-Lunch. A lot of dot balls salted with the odd scoring shot or boundary. One ball from the Rhino, whose first five over spell had gone for just 7 runs, went down leg and beat everything, going for three byes – a rare blemish – while Holland produced a crunching cover drive to the boundary later in the same over. As if disapproving of such frivolity as seven off an over, the batsmen went back into their shells against tight, probing bowling and five overs went by without a run off the bat. As the run-rate dipped below 2, the tactic seemed to be to tire the bowlers and to wait for run-scoring opportunities later in the day, aiming to create scoreboard pressure by accumulating a huge total.

Holland’s 50 came in 138 balls and, soon, the hundred was up in the 44^th over, with Holland 60* and Alsop, 23* and signs that the score was accelerating. The captain asked for the ball to be changed but, after a careful examination, the umpire returned it to him saying that it was not out of shape. Possibly distracted by the interruption, Holland aimed a flick down leg to the next ball; James Bracey got a glove to it, but could not hold on to a difficult chance – he had been uncharacteristically untidy and this was the second chance missed. Scoring was becoming easier as the bowlers lost their line a little. At the same time, as the ball got softer you wondered how much the lack of a spinner was going hurt the Shire: how long before Chris Dent turned to Kraigg Brathwaite for an exploratory bowl?

At 143-1, Dan Worrall induced an edge from Holland’s bat. It went straight to Kraigg Brathwaite at 1^st Slip and went down. Holland 77* and a bad one to miss. As if in atonement, Kraigg Brathwaite came on for the 58^th over and was milked for a two and a single from Alsop to bring up his fifty from 134 balls (5x4). After a 4-over spell that was fairly inexpensive, but not too threatening, we went back to an all-seam attack. Slowly, Holland moved up to the 90s as runs started to come more freely. Two to Square Leg off Matt Taylor took him to 98* out of 191-1. Two boundaries to Alsop from Josh Shaw moved the score to 199-1 and the focus moved back to Holland, still on 98*, with Kraigg Brathwaite and James Bracey seen to be on constant animated conversation behind the stumps.  A single took him to 99* and brought up the 200 at the end of the 73^rd over, keeping him on strike. Short ball from Josh Shaw that he tried to hook and hit him in the chest and, finally, a pull to leg for the two that took him to 101* (229 balls, 13x4). It was an innings of application rather than great elegance and was grinding-down the bowling.

The captain, resplendent in sunglasses and his ponytail tied in a bun, brought himself on to try some occasional left arm spin. The first ball turned and kept very low, but slowly enough for Alsop to cut for two. Seven off the over as the two batsmen milked him. Alsop moved into the 90s – 218-1 and still 20 overs left in the day.  Runs flowing far faster than they had for the first half of proceedings. Up came Alsop’s century (200 balls, 11x4) as he punished the last Josh Shaw over before the new ball was due. Back came Dan Worrall to take it and, finally, with his second delivery, he got a ball through Holland’s defences to have him LBW for 114 (250 balls, 15x4), 247-2. Some relief at last.  Worrall 1-26 from 14.2 overs and with his very next ball he almost took the edge of new batsman, Sam Northeast. Back came Ryan Higgins to share the new ball and the scoring slowed again, but there was very little hint of a sudden fall of wickets. 90 overs gone, 266-2 and Matt Taylor back into the attack for the last few overs of the day, along with Dom Goodman, who had again been exceptional. Dan Worrall (19-7-38-1) and Ryan Higgins (19-7-35-0) had been admirably economical, but would have preferred a few more in the wickets column.

Two overs to go and Gloucestershire resigned to going into Day 2 with a sizeable problem. Matt Taylor, who had been a little expensive, bowled one down leg. Northeast chased it and got a tickle to Bobby Bracey who made no mistake. Northeast waited for the decision, but it was 291-3 and a bonus wicket. In came Mason Crane, who played a most peculiar defensive shot off Goodman and survived a loud shout for LBW that maybe was just going down. 292-3, Alsop 127* at the Close.

It was not a “wheels off waggon” day but, as was inevitable, a day when things did not go as hoped was due sooner or later. Hampshire batted with enormous patience and reaped the rewards, while the Gloucestershire attack largely bowled pretty well for very little reward. However, this was a day the lack of a front-line spinner was missed. The bowlers know that they are in for another hard day tomorrow.

Day 2:

Another start in glorious sunshine, if a little cold for Kraigg Brathwaite’s taste. With overs running out to accrue bonus points, Gloucestershire needed three wickets in fourteen overs for a second point. Hampshire, with two batting points in the bag, a third a mere formality and a fourth, likely, were going to want to bat for at least two sessions before declaring. The Hampshire strategy looked to be to bat once, make inroads in the evening session and then give their attack a night to rest and start again on the third morning.

Third ball, Alsop shuffled across his stumps and Dan Worrall pinned him in front but, unfortunately, to a ball pitching outside leg… His shuffle across the stumps meant that he would always be in trouble if he missed, but the problem for the bowlers was that he was not missing many. Then nightwatchman Crane played and missed, continuing to try to convince the bowlers that he was not planning to hang around. The 300 came up at the end of the 101^st over; the early breakthrough that Gloucestershire needed had not come yet. Finally, Ryan Higgins got a ball to lift a little and move away and Crane edged through to Bracey. 302-4 and 8.4 overs to take two more wickets. The bad news was that Crane’s departure only brought in James Vince. James Bracey advanced to the stumps, but it seemed evident from the tranquil batting that Hampshire were not interested in chasing the extra batting point. With eight balls left for bonus points Ryan Higgins rapped Vince on the pads, but the huge shout was met with icy silence. 110 over gone, 322-4. Bonus points 3-1 to the hosts.

Josh Shaw changed to bowling round the wicket, barely within the tramlines to Alsop. What initially looked like a couple of wild deliveries was a tactic that almost paid off as Alsop took a wild slash at one that just barely missed the edge but, at the same time, hardly lifted after pitching and bounced twice before reaching Bracey. Then there was a strange moment when Vince charged down the wicket at Josh Shaw, aimed a wild heave that clipped the inside edge and reached James Bracey on the half volley. Bracey could not take it cleanly and could not react in time to throw down the wicket. It was another moment of frustration, another “if only” moment when, on a day when fortune was not with the Shire, Vince could have been out twice to the same delivery. Finally, Ryan Higgins bowled one down leg, Alsop tried to nudge it and Bracey took a fine catch. Alsop strangled down leg for 149 (290 balls, 19x4), Hampshire 332-5. The bad news was that Ryan Higgins was bowling some very fine balls that made you wonder what the Hampshire attack could do.

Once again though, things settled down and the ball went back to doing very little. Dom Goodman came on for another tight spell, but runs still came at the other end and Hampshire were clearly accelerating for an afternoon declaration. 376-5 from 125 overs at Lunch and you wondered where a wicket might come from.

However optimistic he might be, one suspects that Dan Worrall would not have imagined that he would be on a hat-trick early in the afternoon session as Vince passed his 50. 403-5, Vince and Dawson rubbing it in. Then, unexpectedly, a waft outside off, inside edge from Vince and James Bracey took a low catch that barely reached him. Vince out for 52. In came McManus. High backlift. Jabbed down on one outside off and the edge sailed to the captain, at 2^nd Slip, who took a low catch diving forward. McManus stayed, presumably thinking that it was a bump ball. The umpires consulted and, after a long delay, McManus went. 403-7. Hat-trick ball, wide of off, swinging further away and ignored by Abbott. The batsman though did not hand around for long. Yorker from Worrall. Abbott hit straight in front. 419-8 and Dan Worrall on 4-67. At 291-2 you would imagine that Chris Dent would have taken this position. However, Dawson was still there and knows how to hold a bat. Up came his 50 with a boundary and then a cut for two off Higgins. 436-8 and the ninth wicket partnership was becoming a nuisance. Dawson was making it clear that he was going to add runs as quickly as he could. He launched the Rhino high into over Mid-Wicket to bring up the 450 with a six in the 141^st over and move into the 60s. Another curious moment as he crashed a ball over Long Off and, thinking that it was four, did not run until the more alert Wheal had almost reached his end as the ball was intercepted inside the rope. Next ball he tried an even bigger wahoo and edged it onto his own stumps. Dawson gone for 65. Ryan Higgins with 3-75.

The last pair decided to swing at everything and, for a short while, it came off. Yorker from Ryan Higgins, a swing and a miss from Abbas . 470ao and Higgins with a highly respectable 4-78. In retrospect, though, one suspects that Tom Smith will be thinking that he should have been in the XI instead of one of the seamers and it would be hard to argue that he is wrong if he was thinking it. Even so, the figures for Worrall, Higgins and Goodman were pretty heroic in a total of 470.

The Shire needed a good start, but did not get it. Brathwaite opened the scoring with a confident clip to Square Leg for two and the batsmen played busily, taking singles where available to rotate the strike. The pitch looked easy. Abbas was not looking threatening. Then he bowled a straight, full length ball at Chris Dent, which the captain, with his spread-eagled stance, simply missed. Dent LBW Abbas 6. 18-1 and out walked James Bracey in an all too familiar crisis. However, an idea of the nature of the pitch is given by the way that Liam Dawson was wheeling away as early as the 9^th over. Hampshire were already thinking that it would be a long haul and that they needed to be spelling their quicks.

30-1 from 13 overs at Tea and a lot of hard work to do for the batsmen. The first target would be 321 and the follow-on. A push for a single from Kraigg Brathwaite brought up the 50 in the 21^st over as he and  Bracey batted sensibly, minimising risks. The 50 partnership came up in the 25^th over with a clip off his hip from James Bracey. A fine cover drive for four brought Kraigg Brathwaite’s 50 (51*, 90 balls, 4x4), 93-1. Bracey switched to an Off Stump guard against Dawson and brought up the hundred with a cut behind point. Brathwaite 57*, Bracey 36*, in the 35^th over. 10 overs to the Close. Both batsmen playing with confidence and few alarms. Could they stay together to the end of the day?

James Bracey pushed away from his body and the Chinese cut just passed the stumps. Dawson was wheeling away accurately, but with little threat. Then he pitched one on Off, it turned a little and caught Kraigg Braithwaite’s edge, with McManus gratefully swallowing the edge. Brathwaite 60 (116 balls, 4x4), 106-2 and some of the shine had gone off the session. Six overs remained and out came Tom Lace. The day ended extremely quietly: just two singles came off the last five overs. Tom Lace again, a sleeping partner, 0* at the Close after 18 balls; he needs to convert starts into 50s and this is just the pitch on which to play yourself into form as, provided that you play straight, there is little danger. 114-2 from 45 overs at the Close, Bracey 46*.

Again, much will depend on James Bracey tomorrow, but the match already looks to be heading towards a hunt for bonus points. If Gloucestershire avoid the follow-on tomorrow – 321 – which they should do, it is hard to see a route to a positive result. As important in the context of the season will be to reach 350 in 110 overs.

So, a much better day, today. Dan Worrall (31-11-74-4), Ryan Higgins (32.1-9-78-4) and Dom Goodman (25-8-54-1) were all heroic with the ball. Kraigg Brathwaite has his first 50 for the Shire and has shown that he is adapting to County cricket. And James Bracey is approaching another fifty. But the middle order has to stand up and be counted tomorrow: the Shire need two big partnerships from them.

Day 3:

Bright sunshine again. Kyle Abbott opening with a maiden to James Bracey. Attention back on Tom Lace, facing Holland at the other end. First and third balls swinging away well outside off and ignored. Second, straighter and met by an impeccable forward defensive. Fifth, full and down leg, clipped away confidently to the boundary. Tom Lace was on his way. After six overs, the Shire 128-2, with Tom Lace 13* and James Bracey so far only adding a single to his overnight total. However, a cut to the boundary in the 8^th over of the morning took him to another 50, made off 136 balls (6x4). A push for a couple from Lace took the Shire to 150-2 in the 57^th over (Bracey 59*, Lace 19*), batting looking comfortable, with Hampshire using Abbas at one end and Dawson at the other.

Tom Lace has made a bad habit of getting to 20, looking solid and getting out and, with the partnership approaching 50, he did it again; fence outside off at a ball from Abbas and a gentle edge to the ‘keeper. 151-3 and, once again, just as the batsmen were getting comfortable and on top, a wicket fell. In came Ian Cockbain for his first innings in two seasons. What the Shire did not need was to lose a wicket in bizarre circumstance, but James Bracey left a ball from Abbas that was straight on Off Stump and hit middle and off: the crazy angle at which the middle stump was leaning suggested that it was not a great leave. Now, it was 158-4 and the follow-on was looking a long way away. Bracey out for 65 (169 balls, 7x4). Liam Dawson’s 17 overs had cost just 25 runs. The pressure right on Cockbain and Higgins and not much batting left after them.

181-4 from 75 overs at Lunch and the follow-on mark looking further than ever. Ian Cockbain 12*, Ryan Higgins 11*, 140 more needed. However, you felt that if the follow-on were saved, probably there would be too little time left to get a result.

First ball after Lunch a bit full toss from Crane to Ian Cockbain, gently stroked through the covers for a boundary. 200 up with a turn square by Ryan Higgins from the mean Dawson, as the trial by spin continued after Lunch. First bonus point in the 83^rd over and the scoring had slowed so much that even 300 in 110 overs was looking tricky. What runs were coming were mostly off Crane at the other end, who was less accurate, but getting the odd one to bounce and turn nicely. Cockbain 23* and Higgins 19*, battling hard. Back came Abbott with the new ball and immediately got Ryan Higgins to fence at one outside off: a nasty moment that he survived… just. Still, both batsmen were playing confidently. The partnership was standing at 49. Abbas bowled a lovely ball that moved in a little. Ian Cockbain played all round it and the Off Stump went flying. 205-5, Abbas 4-38, Cockbain 24 (101 balls, 2x4) and Gloucestershire back in the Pits faster than you could say “Sebastian Vettell”. It was the tonic for the day: Hampshire were stopping every partnership before it could become dangerous.

In came George Hankins, another player with bags of talent, who wanted a score to cement his position. Another wicket and Hampshire would have fancied their chances of enforcing the follow-on with a huge lead but, after a slow start, the pair played with increasing confidence. The chances of a third batting point disappeared, but the more important target of 321 was getting closer. A quick single for Ryan Higgins, pushed to off brought up the 250, his own 50 (113 balls, 2x4) and the second batting point, in the 105^th over. Then the batsmen started to accelerate against Crane and Dawson. Crane offered a huge full toss that George Hankins hammered to Mid-Wicket, although only for a single, then he served-up a long hop down leg that Ryan Higgins despatched with considerable violence. Dawson dropped one short and Ryan Higgins met it and launched it over Long On for six, watching the ball’s flight like a golfer who has just sent a perfect two iron onto the centre of the green. 271-5 at Tea, Ryan Higgins 64*, George Hankins 25*, 199 the deficit and just a single over left for bonus points.

Crane resumed after Tea, just the 29 needed from 6 balls for a third batting point. 273-5 at the end of the 110^th over and 2 batting points for the Shire, 1 bowling point for Hampshire. 4-3 to the home team overall. Crane overpitched and George Hankins launched it to the Long On boundary. Next ball Crane delivered a perfect ball that pitched middle and turned away. Possibly taken by surprise, George Hankins played across his pad and was absolutely plumb. George Hankins 31 (73 balls, 3x4), 283-6 and the follow-on still 38 away, which brought Holland back to try to remove the tail. Then, the killer blow: a poor ball from Crane well outside off, Ryan Higgins went to sweep violently and only managed to edge the ball onto the stumps. Higgins out for 73 (139 balls, 3x4, 1x6). Gloucestershire 288-7 and the excellent work of the batsmen before Tea undone. 33 to save the follow-on and only the bowlers left. Matt Taylor tried to launch Crane out of the stadium and the ball fell between two fielders then, inexplicably, Dan Worrall left a perfectly straight delivery next ball that hit all three stumps. 298-8 and things starting to look very black for the Shire. The second batsman to be bowled leaving a ball that hit middle… add two batsmen having dragged on wide balls: the bowlers having more than their fair share of fortune.

300 up in the 118^th over, but now things were getting serious. Defeat was becoming a real possibility. A two hit high over Dawson’s head and then one swung to the Mid-Wicket boundary by Josh Shaw: 8 needed. Next ball, Dawson defeated Shaw’s forward defensive, clean-bowled, 313-9. Oh dear! In came Dom Goodman, an excellent bat at junior levels, but a genuine #11 at this level. Single to Matt Taylor. 7 needed. A couple more singles to Matt Taylor. 5 wanted. Another single. 4 wanted and just 108 overs left in the match. Goodman was hit on the pad with consecutive deliveries by Dawson who implored the umpire to give them, both though were going down leg. Then Dom Goodman got off the mark with a nudge to Fine Leg for two. Just 2 needed. A drive for a single by Matt Taylor… one more. Every ball that passed the bat was met either with an appeal for a catch, or McManus whipping off the bails and asking for a stumping. With one more wanted to save the follow-on, Matt Taylor cut at Dawson and the ball flew to Vince at Slip. Vince juggled twice and, finally held on. Gloucestershire 320ao, Taylor 11, Goodman 2*. 150 behind. 6 overs left in the day. Matt Taylor and Dom Goodman had resisted for eleven and a half overs and, surely, had done enough to save the game.

Hampshire, 132 overs in their bowlers’ legs, had to enforce the follow-on and did. Chris Dent turned Abbott to Long Leg for a single and Gloucestershire were on their way, then Kraigg Brathwaite left a ball from outside off from Abbott that came back a long way and kept low and only just missed Off Stump, scuttling through for two byes. Not good for the nerves. The batsmen survived though. 14-0 at the Close. Kraigg Brathwaite, 10*. Chris Dent, 2*. 136 to make Hampshire bat again. The Shire are not going to win this one, but could lose it if they are not careful.

Day 4:

The equation was simple for both sides. Hampshire needed ten wickets on a pitch where the occasional ball was going through very low and the occasional ball was turning, but not sharply. Gloucestershire had to bat far enough past Tea to make a chase impossible. The supporters of the Shire were to be put through the wringer.

In reality, the equation was more complicated. If Gloucestershire got ahead, every run and every over counted double: one more run to chase in the fourth innings, one fewer over to get the runs. And, on the Hampshire side, their attack had bowled 138 overs off the reel already. Abbas and Abbott had been rested after Tea the previous day, but that meant even more overs for the support bowlers. With a potential 80 overs to the handshake, James Vince faced his side being in the field for almost 220 overs if they could not bowl out the opposition (in the end, they spent 229.1 consecutive overs in the field). This would be an interesting balance for both sides, Gloucestershire knew that the sooner that they could get ahead, the better the chance of saving the game and of some easy runs later in the day, but they could not afford to give away wickets. Hampshire knew that if they over-attacked, they risked giving away runs that would make their task harder. The match should be a draw, but how the two sides went about getting to it would be fascinating. That it ended as a draw was down to the heroics of Shaw and Goodman who held on for 22 overs but, ultimately, the bowlers were too exhausted to finish the job after almost 230 overs in the field.

Again, bright sunshine. Abbas opening to Kraigg Brathwaite, who tucked the fifth ball of the day behind Square to run an easy single and start the scoring, followed by a nicely clipped boundary off a ball from Abbott that was over-pitched on leg. However, the need to see off the new ball attack and tire the bowlers led to maiden after maiden being bowled; it was not until the eighth over of the day that Chris Dent pushed the single that took him off his overnight 2*. Slowly the scoring chances started to appear: Chris Dent clipped Abbas nicely off his legs for three, a rather ungainly Brathwaite deflection to a ball that lifted from Abbott went to the Cover boundary. 29-0 after ten overs of the morning and on came the change bowlers and, with them, two wickets. Perhaps the batsmen relaxed too much as the opening attack came off. Whatever the reason, both Wheal and Dawson took wickets in their first over.

Chris Dent got a good ball outside off from Wheal that lifted a touch. He played at it with an angled bat and the edge went high to  Dawson at first slip, who took it by his face, tumbling backwards. Two balls later, Dawson was on and offered a tempting ball outside off that Kraigg Brathwaite advanced to and drove in the air, miscuing to Abbott. Two wickets in three balls, both openers gone, 33-2 and the Shire staring down the barrel. Fifty up in the 25^th over (50-2, Bracey 9*, Lace 7*) and now it was simply a fight to survive. James Bracey had to contend with a Silly Point, a Short Forward Square Leg and a Slip very close in. He drove at Dawson, edged and it was 50-3. Scoreboard pressure was now playing on the minds of the batsmen and an innings defeat was looming.

Only 27 overs were bowled in the morning session. Despite using the spinners much of the time, the need to conserve the strength of the bowlers led to a dreadful over-rate. Gloucestershire 67-3, Tom Lace 20*, Ian Cockbain 3*. Still 83 behind.

Post-Lunch, Tom Lace and Ian Cockbain came back out and battled hard. One ball from Abbott lifted alarmingly outside off and Lace swayed back in an undignified, but successful attempt to avoid it. On came Crane and a cut for a single took the Shire half way to making Hampshire bat again. Then Ian Cockbain mowed a ball down leg to the Square Leg boundary. The two spinners offered a huge contrast in styles. Crane was more liable to bowl the unplayable ball, but does offer scoring chances, while Dawson offered very little to hit, inviting the batsman to commit suicide out of pure, scoreless frustration. Tom Lace has struggled to pass the twenties recently, but a single of Crane took him to 30 and then consecutive boundaries off Wheal – the first, a magnificent cut, the second an edge along the ground between ‘keeper and First Slip – took him to 38* and the Shire past 100, bringing up the 50 partnership. 101-3, 49 behind, Cockbain 20*. Wheal bowled a ball well outside off that was angling in, Tom Lace edged and Wheatley took a fantastic, diving catch, low at very wide Second Slip. Lace perhaps a little unlucky not to get away with it, but 103-4, with 52 overs to go, Hampshire were taking their chances, something that Gloucestershire had not done. Tom Lace out for 38 and the Shire back in trouble.

Slowly the runs were being whittled down. Wheal dropped short and Ian Cockbain hooked imperiously to go to 34* and reduce the deficit to 28. Abbas was into his third spell of the innings and was walking back to his mark increasingly wearily after nearly 200 overs in the field. A No Ball for a wild bouncer that McManus only barely managed to haul down brought the deficit down to 20. 40 overs left, Gloucestershire 132-4 (Cockbain 35*, Higgins 13*), just 18 behind and this had a look of a last effort from the Pakistani quick, although, in 17 overs the new ball would be due and Hampshire were looking increasingly likely to need to use it.

Tea came at 133-4, Cockbain 36*, Higgins 13*, 17 behind and a nominal 38 overs to go. For the first time in a while it had definitely been Gloucestershire’s session.

Abbott partnering Crane after Tea. Now, just a single Slip and no other close fielders for Crane. Another hour together for Cockbain and Higgins and surely the match would be safe. The bowler was unable to replicate the precision of Dawson that had brought so much pressure on the batsmen. Unfortunately, though, Abbott though was still steaming in and got one past Ian Cockbain’s bat that hit him in front. Cockbain 36 (122 balls, 4x4) and the match back in the balance, still 17 behind and George Hankins the last specialist batsman. Suddenly talk of a ten to five touch of elbows again looked awfully premature. The Shire making it interesting again when the hard work seemed to have been done. A beautiful straight drive down the ground from Ryan Higgins brought the deficit down to 1. Crane then offered him with next ball and Ryan Higgins cut hard to take the Shire into the lead and him to 28*. Abbott though was not finished. Beautiful delivery to Higgins, cutting in a little, inside edge, Middle Stump uprooted. 154-6, the lead just 4 and Higgins out for 29. The match had swung yet again. Hampshire clearly favourites to finish it off.

For 44 balls George Hankins and Matt Taylor hung on, almost scoreless. With two overs to the second new ball, Wheal struck what seemed like the final, killer blow. Short ball, George Hankins ducked. The ball brushed his glove on the way to the helmet and flew to Vince in the Gulley, who snaffled the rebound. Hankins out for 8 and Gloucestershire 161-7. In came Dan Worrall. First ball was fast an straight, Dan Worrall’s forward defensive was down the wrong line. Leg stump uprooted. 161-8 and Wheal on a hat-trick. In came Josh Shaw, ultimately the hero of the hour, who was perilously close to nicking the hat-trick ball as it went down past leg. Last over before the new ball. Mason Crane bowling and a sense of the inevitable in the air. Crane bowled a ball to Matt Taylor that turned in. Taylor offed no stroke and was palpably LBW. Three wickets had fallen in six balls. 161-9 and 22 overs and a new ball for the last pair to survive. The position looked hopeless.

Wheal kept rushing in and Josh Shaw was able to nudge one on his legs for four. 15 the lead, 21 overs to go. Then an guide through the slips for another boundary next ball: 19 ahead. A ball down leg from Crane that beat everything and the batsmen scrambled 3 byes: 11 runs in 3 balls and the lead up to 23. The new ball was taken in the 83^rd over and Abbas came back for a final effort. One more over ticked off, then a second, then a third and a fourth. Fourteen overs remaining if there was a change of innings and the lead now 28. After five overs with the new ball, Dawson was back – Abbot had been given just two overs – and then Wheal replaced Abbas. Josh Shaw kept inching up the score as Dom Goodman held firm at the other end. Seven overs maximum left for Hampshire to bat, 32 the lead… surely they couldn’t pull this off? Horrible imaginings in the Hampshire side of the win escaping. A bubble of hope among the Shire fans. Still Wheal had the energy to rough-up Goodman with a bouncer. Finally, Dom Goodman got off the mark with a single to leg from his 39^th ball. Six overs maximum to bat, the lead 34. Five men round the bat for Crane. A bye from a wild one down leg and a sixth fielder joined the ring around Dom Goodman who scooped one just out of reach of Silly Mid Off, the ball running to the boundary. A maximum of 5 overs to bat, the lead 39, Josh Shaw 19*, Dom Goodman 5*. Still Wheal had the energy to bowl a bouncer, but now the equation was looking increasingly difficult for Hampshire. Josh Shaw sent a Chinese cut for four, the lead was now 43 and, even if the last wicket fell next ball, Hampshire would have just 4 overs to chase them. A long conference between the batsmen in mid-pitch. Six men round the bat. Crane bowled a huge full toss that Dom Goodman despatched with aplomb. 47 the lead and, now, Hampshire must have known that it was all over. Wheal charged in for one, last effort, but Josh Shaw hardly had to play a ball. With five overs remaining, the lead 47 and a maximum of 2 overs after the change of innings, Hampshire called it off.

Josh Shaw and Dom Goodman showed that, albeit against exhausted bowlers, it was a pitch that a determined batsman could survive on. They had done so for 17.3 overs and had added 36, precious runs. The Shire has escaped with an extraordinary draw and 11 points and stayed second in the group, sixteen points ahead of Somerset and twenty-five ahead of Middlesex, who they face next.

The stuff of legend. #GoGlos      

County Championship Round 2: Somerset v Gloucestershire

  

Preview:

After the remarkable win against the group’s #2 seeds, now comes an away match against the #1 seed.

Should anyone be feeling overconfident, in the corresponding Bob Willis Trophy match last year, Gloucestershire were shot out for 76 and 70. And in the 2020 pre-season friendly against the same opponents, lost by an innings, dismissed for 273 and 130. You get the picture. Will 2021 be different? Well, Gloucestershire had by far the better of the 2021 pre-season friendly and won both return T20s. That is not to say that the Shire are not big underdogs going into this match, but there is some room for hope that things will be different in 2021.

Kraigg Brathwaite, who was at the Bristol County Ground to watch his new teammates winning: he cannot fail to have been impressed. Brathwaite will open with Chris Dent and allow Bobby Bracey to move away from the new ball and get a break between keeping wicket and coming out to bat. With Bracey at 3 and Tom Lace or Graeme van Buuren at 4, the top order starts to look a very solid one, with a mix of styles. The pre-match assumption was that George Hankins would be the one drop out of the XI to make a space for Kraigg Brathwaite. And, with Josh Shaw’s groin injury, Jared Warner was likely to replace him in the attack, having substituted for Shaw on Sunday. Jared Warner took the new ball for the 2^nd XI v Worcestershire 2^nd XI, taking 2-44 in the first innings however, he did not bowl in the 2^nd innings, although he did come out as nightwatchman: he has been replaced with Dom Goodman, a young seamer, in the XIII. Despite Tom Smith’s good form in the 2^nd XI match and Taunton’s reputation for turn, Ian Harvey has resisted the temptation to add him to the squad, relying in Graeme van Buuren’s left arm orthodox and Kraigg Brathwaite’s off spin.

The final XI will be an interesting balance because either Goodman plays as an extra seamer, or George Scott will be promoted to fourth seamer, with an extra batsman, probably Hankins, playing.

Day 1:

Chris Dent won the Toss and inserted, as against Surrey under fluffy white clouds and plenty of blue sky, although a cold morning. Today though the issue was more divided than in the first round with five sides choosing to bat and four inserting, so Dent was bucking the trend a little.  What Kraigg Brathewaite, hands deep in pockets at First Slip, must of made of the temperature did not bear thinking of. However, seeing the umpires with gloves and mufflers gave you an idea of what the conditions were like.

Somerset went with a powerful-looking line-up. Gloucestershire went for five seamers, with Dom Goodman making a debut and Jack Taylor missing out. It did not take long for Chris Dent to see some reward. Banton took a boundary off David Payne’s first over, before Ryan Higgins took the edge of Lammonby’s bat with a beautiful delivery slanted across the batsman, straight into the midrift of George Hankins at Second Slip. Somerset 4-1. Higgins was looking threatening and passed Banton’s outside edge with a beauty of a delivery. He then induced another edge from Tom Abel that fell well short of Hankins, inducing Bracey to come up to the stumps. There were though not too many alarms for the batsmen and, with a fast outfield, anything too straight was clipped to leg and went straight to the boundary. 42-1 after 10 overs and the score was mounting faster than the Captain would have wanted. Payne, coming to the end of his new ball burst had Banton in his sights for an over. Last ball, a lovely inswinger squeezed through the gap between bat and pad. Banton lunged to try to stop it trickling onto the stumps, but too late. 43-2 and the decision to insert was beginning to pay off.

In came Dom Goodman to the attack. Very tall, not unlike David Payne. Not express pace, but rapidly he got a ball to lift past Hildreth’s nose from not very short of a length. And he beat Hildreth’s bat with a ball that lifted a little and moved away. Next ball, Hildreth drove and the bat went under the ball. Hello, Dom Goodman! Definitely a fabulous impression from his first over as he beat Hildreth’s groping bat with each of his last three deliveries. Impressive. Very impressive.

Somerset kept re-building and seemed to have steadied the ship when Abel decided to play an exaggerated leave to a Matt Taylor delivery that moved back in and took the pads in front of off. Abel out for 26, 69-3 and Somerset, if not in strife, in some difficulty. Again, a flurry of boundaries – Somerset applying the same approach that Surrey had last week – and Hildreth, who was starting to look increasingly dangerous - got a ball from Matt Taylor on off stump and clipped to Tom Lace at Square Leg who brought off an excellent catch and charged in, fit-pumping wildly in delight. Somerset 80-4 and probably not in the sort of position that they had hoped for. However, we have seen this before from Somerset: their batting starts at #9!!

94-4 at Lunch, from 33 overs. Gloucestershire’s session. Sixteen boundaries – 64 runs – in the session. Like Surrey had, you got the impression that Somerset were trying to make a point and impose themselves on these country upstarts… and losing wickets because of it. There was not enough taking singles, upsetting the bowler’s rhythm.

It did not take long for Somerset to hit a few more boundaries and lose another wicket after Lunch. Ryan Higgins to Bartlett. Bartlett tried to turn to leg, the ball cut in, LBW 22. Somerset 110-5. Payne dropped short and Davies hooked enormously for six, then next ball for four. Once again, runs were coming uncomfortably fast and, once again, the batsmen seemed to be getting on top. Would they stay there this time?

Over 50. Halfway through the extended day of 100 overs and Somerset 163-5 and beginning to dominate the bowling. Davies 46*, Overton 19* and the Shire needing to break a stand that was now past 50, with the inexperienced Goodman and Scott in harness. Out came the helmet and Bobby Bracey advanced to the stumps for Scott. Overton swung hard at Scott sending the ball into the stratosphere, but it dropped safe, pulling up before the boundary. Davies seemed to have been on 49 for an age and finally, to his relief, he drove Goodman through the covers for two (51*, 91 balls, 8x4, 1x6). The Somerset permanent attack mode was, finally, paying dividends. 200 up in the 59^th over and Somerset beginning to dominate.

Back came Matt Taylor, another swing from Davies – three fielders converged as the ball went high into the air, again falling safe. Overton’s 50 (52*, 66 balls, 8x4) came with another crunching boundary off Taylor and Somerset were 222-5 after 65 overs at Tea. The partnership 112.

Finally, the Rhino got a nice one on a fourth stump line to Overton who, obligingly, edged it straight to Hankins at Second Slip. Finally, the breakthrough. Overton 54 (88 balls, 8x4). 226-6 and the Shire back with a chance of dismissing Somerset for under 300. Ryan Higgins 18-6-47-3 and showing that his success has not been down to playing against Second Division batting.

With Davies moving into the 80s, supported by Lewis Gregory, we moved into the pre-new ball “phony war”. Scott and van Buuren in harness, resting the front-line attack and Somerset adding singles warily, in search of the second batting point. New ball taken by Payne. Somerset fans crowing in the chat. Wide one outside off. Wild slash from Gregory. Thanks very much! Scott took a good catch in the Gully. 255-7. Davies seemed frozen with fear at his approaching century and had his outside edge passed time and again by Ryan Higgins. Finally though, it was a mistimed drive to Payne that took the inside edge onto the stumps. 264-8 (Davies 87, 180 balls, 12x4, 1x6) and the day swinging back towards the North of the River Avon as the light started to fade. Would the Somerset tail wag violently, as it has so many times? De Lange whacked Ryan Higgins straight back over his head for 4 and the tactics became clear: yes, the batsmen planned to have some fun. De Lange then thumped Payne back over his head for six.

Then things went quiet again. 300 up in the 92^nd over and Dom Goodman into the attack after his excellent first spell in the morning. Just when you thought that Somerset were playing for the Close, Mark Taylor dropped a little short and De Lange hit the ball into the flats, where a gentleman with a Wyvern flag put the chance down. Finally, the moment that Dom Goodman was waiting for: 4^th stump line, maybe some movement. Big edge to Brathwaite at 1^st Slip and gone.  Out came the Taunton Lara to see off the over. Matt Taylor to de Lange. Mis-cue into orbit on the leg side and Tom Lace raced in to finish the innings.

Somerset 312ao. More than looked likely just after Lunch, fewer than Somerset would have hoped for. And 3 overs for the Shire to face under the floodlights.

Lewis Gregory with the new ball. Brathwaite to face. 4 slips and the first ball wide and going wider. Two, tucked off his hip to the second ball and he was under way. Three slips and a gulley for Craig Overton and Chris Dent cut him disdainfully to the cover boundary. 13-0 at the Close and a tricky period navigated. The game is very much even.

Day 2:

Alert Shire-watchers may have noticed that the Group 2 table shows Gloucestershire on top overnight thanks to their three bowling points. Today, the aim was batting points; much would depend today on the start that Brathwaite and Dent could provide. Most media seemed to award Day 1 to Somerset but, to me, it seemed quite an even day.

The batsmen started Day 2 busily. After a quiet first over, both Chris Dent and Kraigg Brathwaite helped themselves to boundaries, although Gregory beat the Captain’s outside edge with a beautiful delivery. However, both openers looked in good touch, with an early blitz of nicely placed boundaries. Just when you started to think of a quick fifty partnership, Overton slanted one into Kraigg Brathwaite’s pads and the umpire raised the finger. Brathwaite stayed and stared for a while, but it looked like a pretty good shout. 41-1. In came James Bracey who was to go on to dominate the day, while Chris Dent responded to the wicket with an extraordinary slash over the slips for four (although it could have gone anywhere), with the ball losing itself inside the covers. Five Somerset fielders spent several minutes searching before the ball was found!

The 50 came up in the 11^th over as Chris Dent took three consecutive boundaries off Gregory. Fourteen off the over and, despite the loss of Kraigg Brathwaite, Gloucestershire were flying with the run-rate close to 5. On came Josh Davey to replace the expensive Gregory and order was restored initially with some mean bowling before Dent and Bracey started to tuck in to both Davey and de Lange. Dent’s 50 (70 balls, 9x4) came up out of 85-1, guiding Davey through Third Man, from the last ball of the 21^st over: he is in fine form again. Finally, though, he fenced at one too many outside off and edged de Lange through to Davies (50, 82 balls, 9x4). 87-2 and the session evening-up again. Soon Jack Leach was spinning his magic web, which was a delight to watch, unless you were the batsmen or a nervous supporter. Between them, de Lange and Leach stifled the batsmen very effectively. 97-2 from 33 overs (Bracey 24*, Lace 2*)  at Lunch and progress had slowed to a crawl since the Captain went.

You got the feeling that the first half hour after Lunch would be critical. Leach was threatening and you could see two or three wickets falling quickly if the batsmen did not navigate this difficult spell. Bracey brought up the 100 with a lovely reverse sweep that was cut off on the boundary (100-2 in 35.2 overs). For some reason, 100-2 looks so much better than 99-2… or 105-3, doesn’t it? Then, Tom Lace went after Overton: his first cover drive flew to the boundary, his second, next ball, flew straight to Banton at Cover. Lace out for 7 and an unnecessary wicket. In came van Buuren. Overton dropped short and Bracey hooked him over Deep Square Leg for six. Van Buuren then got a nasty ball from Overton that cut back a little and lifted and he could only edge it to Gregory at Slip. 119-4 and the comfort of 101-2 forgotten.

However, James Bracey was still there and took run-scoring chances where he could.  Gregory to Bracey on 49*. Ball tucked off his hip. 50* (115 balls, 6x4, 1x6), Gloucestershire 137-4. Bracey and Ryan Higgins moved into “good cop, bad cop” mode, with Bracey solid and pushing the singles and Higgins looking busy and aggressive. Another boundary from Ryan Higgins and the 150 was up in the 52^nd over. Higgins was taking guard well outside the crease and keeping the scoreboard moving. Gregory then gave James Bracey a short ball outside leg that Bracey hooked magnificently for four. The partnership was getting towards 50 (and the follow-on mark was approaching), when Ryan Higgins fenced at one from Davey and could only guide the ball to Hildreth at Second Slip for 23 (46 balls, 3x4, 160-5). A promising start, but he could not convert. Slowly, Somerset were working their way through the batting. Bracey though was still there and consecutive boundaries off de Lange took the Shire past the follow-on (which some of the cheekier Somerset fans were wondering about) shortly after Lunch. Would anyone stay with him? George Hankins could not: he played around a straight one from de Lange and was LBW. 177-6 and the good start was becoming a distant memory. The Shire in danger of conceding a big lead.

In came George Scott. He played and missed his first two balls and must have been desperately close to being LBW to Davey with the third, finally getting off the mark with a lofted shot that was just out of the reach of the leaping bowler. Not the best start if you are a nervous supporter. 189-6 at Tea from 67 overs and, despite all Bobby Bracey’s efforts (79*), progress was slowing to a crawl, with George Scott hanging on, 1*. More of the same after Tea, then Leach dropped one a fraction short and George Scott launched him high and handsome over his head for six. Where did that come from? Four to Bracey from Gregory and the 200 was up and the first batting point in the 71^st over, with Bracey up to 83*. Somerset ahead, but this was no repeat of 2020. George Scott then tried a massive hoick to leg in Leach’s next over, fortunately getting away with an air shot. Steady George!!

Finally, just as he seemed to have settled down, Gregory gave him some width outside off. Scott drove without due care and attention and Overton took a simple catch. 203-7, Scott 10. And a lot depending now on James Bracey. New ball taken at 217-7, with Bracey on 92* and 23 overs left in the day. Vital to get through it. Short ball from Overton to Matt Taylor and an imperious hook for four. A two for Bracey off Overton took him to 97*. He tried to clip the next ball to leg and there was a huge shout, mainly of frustration, for LBW. A leg bye. Davey to Bracey. Clip off the hip and the ball raced to the Square Leg boundary. 101* (208 balls, 14x4, 1x6) and the Shire 239-7, with Matt Taylor giving sensible support at the other end. De Lange to Matt Taylor: width and slashed hard, but the Banton at Cover could not quite hold on to what would have been a brilliant catch. To keep up the drama, James Bracey drove de Lange and the blade snapped off the handle, but he still ran the single holding on to what remained of the bat! Out came a selection of new bats and Bracey picked his weapon. Bracey 108*, Taylor 20*, 248-7. Single to Bracey and the 250 up. Then a sweetly struck boundary to bring up the fifty partnership. De Lange did not look happy. Four to Matt Taylor off Gregory and the deficit was under 50. Finally, Gregory found the edge of Bobby Bracey’s bat and Hildreth pouched the catch gratefully. Bracey 118 (234 balls, 15x4, 1x6). 274-8, 38 the deficit. It was a fantastic innings and had put Gloucestershire right back in the match.

Still the tail wagged. It was wonderful to watch. Leach dropped a fraction short and Matt Taylor launched him many a mile over his head. Then a boundary off Gregory. 100 overs up, 292-8. Taylor on 49*, 297-8 and de Lange gave him one in the slot. Superb cover drive, 50 (53*, 92 balls, 7x4, 1x6) and the 300 up in the last over of the day. 301-8, Taylor 53*, Payne 9*. 11 the deficit and the game even thanks to a wonderful effort from Bracey and Matt Taylor.

 Day 3:

In this match situation the pressure is very much on the side batting third. Gloucestershire were, effectively at parity, obliging Somerset, who needed the win far more than the Shire, to make the pace, albeit on a pretty blameless surface. The questions for the morning were: how many runs could the last two wickets squeeze out (a fourth batting point was surely out of the question with only 8 overs remaining)? And, how would Somerset go about setting a target?

Just three runs had been added when David Payne went to drive de Lange and the tall bowler reacted well to hold on to a fine, low return catch. 304-9, Payne, 10. In came Goodman, ex Exeter University and was received with a fairly vicious bouncer, which he ducked. A single, tucked off the hip gave him his first run in First Class cricket. It was all quiet and genteel, apart from the bouncers from de Lange. When he finally bowled one in the batsman’s half, Matt Taylor played all round it. Gloucestershire 309ao, a deficit of 3. Matt Taylor LBW 56 (115 balls, 7x4, 1x6). Just eight runs added in half an hour. Effectively, we had a one-innings match with six sessions to play. What sort of target would Somerset set?

Tom Banton saw off the first over from David Payne and it was Lammonby, who was on a run of 5, 0 & 0 this season, to face Ryan Higgins. Guard half a stride down the pitch. Second delivery, the ball moved away from him. Lammonby edged and Bobby Bracey threw the ball up joyfully. Somerset 2-1 after just 8 balls. The Rhino is a kind of rich man’s Jon Lewis in that he scores centuries as well as taking a lot of wickets… but then, Jon Lewis took wickets in quantity for 16 seasons for the Shire. Then came one of the great commentary quotes of the season “despite that… I don’t see a cascade of wickets coming”. If only he had known…

Abel too was taking guard to Ryan Higgins half a stride down the pitch, apparently in an effort to negate his threat. Straight ball, Abel pinned in front and LBW 6. Somerset 18-2 and in strife. Higgins 2-7. Banton and Hildreth played sensibly for a while, pushing the singles in a way so unlike their thud and blunder first innings. Matt Taylor on as first change. Banton pushed at a ball just a fraction outside off and Chris Dent took a good, low catch. Banton 18, Somerset 36-3. In came Bartlett, with Somerset needing someone to blunt the attack for a couple of hours. Higgins got a rest and Dom Goodman came on. Bartlett got a good ball, just outside off. Edge and Bracey took a second catch. Golden duck for Bartlett. Somerset 37-4. Gloucestershire fans blinking in disbelief.

In came Steve Davies, with Somerset desperately needing him to reproduce his first innings batting. For a time, Hildreth and Davies accumulated carefully and seemed to be settling the innings. Payne and Higgins came back. Again, a good delivery in the channel just outside off, Davies edged and George Hankins pouched a fine catch at Second Slip. 68-5. What on Earth is going on here? With Ryan Higgins bowling occasional jaffas, the nerves of the batsmen were on edge and they were making mistakes. There was no extravagant bounce or movement, just nagging line and length. In fact, the whole attack was bowling superbly to plan in a way that Chris Dent could hardly have imagined possible save in imaginary games, played in Elysium. Frankly though, the Somerset batting reeked of nerves and you wondered if Graeme Gooch (he who once called Gloucestershire “Minor Counties West”) was watching this.

The Rhino to Overton: straight ball, far too straight for Overton, who played inside it and heard the death-rattle as the ball took off stump. It was the sort of ball that he must dream of delivering. 71-6, the lead 74 and Ryan Higgins 3-18. Matt Taylor to Gregory. A fairly aimless push to a delivery that was straight, but by no means lethal and the ball flew into the air towards Ryan Higgins at Midwicket (you could not keep him out of the game), who took a comfort catch. Somerset 88-6. Hildreth 32* and very little from anyone else. It must have been a relief for the batsmen when the players went off to line-up around the boundary for two minutes silence before the extended Tea break. What Prince Philip, no mean off-spinner, would have made of the Somerset batting, does not bear thinking of. Great credit to Somerset though on one front: the tribute to Prince Philip on the scoreboard during the break for the funeral was in the best traditions of respect and dignity.

The hundred came up in the 43^rd over. Hildreth (42*) and Davey (2*) playing attritional cricket against accurate bowling. Finally Hildreth broke the spell with a cover drive for four off Ryan Higgins to go to his highest score for two years (46*). There were edges, some more controlled than others and a few good shots, but the lead was increasing slowly. The consensus was that Somerset needed 180 to have a chance. On came van Buuren, Davey took a step down the pitch and the ball flew high and handsome for 4 to the long boundary. Next ball, Davey tried again and miscued for 2. Finally, Hildreth tucked Payne off his hip for the single that took him to 50 (124 balls, 7x4). Somerset 124-7. Back to attrition, with not much happening until, suddenly, van Buuren got one to bounce and turn big, beating the outside edge. Van Buuren was asking some questions and Davey’s answer was a superb reverse sweep for four. On came Dom Goodman and Hildreth drove him elegantly for 4: 140-7, Hildreth 63*. This was the critical phase of the day; for the first time, Somerset were getting on top.

Then, the unexpected happened. Goodman bowled a straight one to Hildreth, who seemed to play a half-hearted late cut. The ball hammered into the pad with the bat apparently nowhere near ball and Hildreth was out for 64 (150 balls, 8x4). Somerset 143-8 and a wicket-maiden for Dom Goodman who, once again, had made something happen. The action was so bewildering that you watched it time and again and still could not really work out the sequence of events. Somerset fans on social media were furious, believing that the umpire had robbed them of the game but, apparently there was another angle that was not shown on the live stream that demonstrated that the umpire had got it absolutely spot on. Either way, it was a very strange shot.

In came de Lange. One assumed that he would take the attack to the bowlers. Van Buuren bowled a straight one. De Lange missed, it hit the pad. Simple as that. Once again, good line and nagging length were rewarding the bowlers when a batsman made a mistake. The only doubt could have been if it would have gone under middle stump. 143-9 and Somerset were right back in the pits. The talk was of the Hildreth dsmissal and daylight robbery, but, in truth, it was an awful Somerset performance that was threatening to lose them the match, not the umpiring and Gloucestershire could point also to two LBW shouts that looked awfully adjacent but that were not given.

A push for a single by Leach brought up the 150 lead. How many could Leach and Davey add? Ryan Higgins came back. Davey edged. Brathwaite dropped it, grabbed again and finally held on. Davey out for 22. Somerset 149ao. 153 to win. It had been a sorry effort by Somerset.

Out came Kraigg Brathwaite and Chris Dent. Gregory with the ball. Bright sunshine. Single from the first ball to start the chase. Then Chris Dent played a delicious drive that just stopped short of the Long On boundary. Four off the first over and the Shire on their way. No great alarms and just ten overs to play, but Overton then gave one Dent on fourth stump line. Dent tried to leave and inside edged, exactly the same shot and exactly the same inside edge as against Surrey the previous week. Stumps akimbo and Dent furious. 10-1. Bracey came in an edged just short of First Slip. Somerset came alive and suddenly showed the passion that had been singularly missing for the last 4 sessions. As the shadows encroached on the pitch, Gregory passed Bratwaite’s bat and everyone went up. Not out, but you could not help thinking that if Somerset had shown this passion for the previous four sessions they would have been well on the way to victory by now, instead of battling to avoid defeat. Another wicket and you felt that nerves would start to shred.

A wild bouncer from Overton was signalled wide and you could see the Somerset heads dropping as Brathwaite and Bracey saw it out to the Close. 28-1, Brathwaite 8*, Bracey 10*. 125 more to win. Gloucestershire’s day by a country mile.

The match is not yet won. Gloucestershire need to come out and bat sensibly and well in the morning but, that first victory against Somerset in far too many years should come sometime after Lunch if they do. #GoGlos

Day 4:

So, le Crunch, as our French friends would say in perfect Franglais.

The equation: 125 to win, 9 wickets left, but much would depend on Brathwaite and Bracey to get a solid start. One fifty partnership should be enough to do it.

The reward: a first win at Taunton since 1993. That’s 28 years ago. Several of this Gloucestershire side were not even born then.

In contrast, Somerset needed to strike fast and frequently. Would they blow the batting away, or were they scarred by their third day implosion? Since mid-afternoon on Day 2, when they were right on top, little had gone right for the Cidermen.

A beautiful morning at Taunton, the sun shining down on the distant Quantocks. James Bracey facing. Gregory with the ball. First ball, a confident cut to Point that was stopped. The second, on leg, clipped firmly to the Mid-Wicket boundary. Bracey already looking in supreme form and confidence. Four from the first over and little sign of threat or tension. Overton to Brathwaite: a maiden, but already there were signs of some interesting mannerisms in Brathwaite’s leaves that promised to  entertain the fans through the season. Overton though was causing Brathwaite some problems outside off, although Brathwaite responded with a clip through Mid-Wicket for four. Overton bowled one down leg, James Bracey tried to guide it to Fine Leg and bowler and Slips went up in a raucous appeal that was not given. Overton was furious and threw the ball down when it got back to him. Short ball on leg from Overton and Bracey hooked it to the boundary. The 50 up in the 6^th over of the morning and the runs required down to 100.

Overton was bowling like a demon, but nothing much was happening after those early deliveries beat Brathwaite. Bobby Bracey looking solid and unfased and Kraigg Brathwaite supporting him solidly.  First half hour seen off, no wickets and Gloucestershire bringing down the runs required at a good rate. On came Leach for the tenth over of the morning. What a fine bowler he is, but this was not to be a good day for him at all. He offered a short, wide one and Brathwaite cut it powerfully to the boundary. 68-1 from 20 overs, 85 wanted. De Lange gave Bobby Bracey some width and was carved for four. The batsmen were getting on top and Bobby Bracey was clearly trying to unsettle the bowlers and managing it. Leach dropped one a little short and Brathwaite hit it powerfully through Midwicket; the magic was not there and the attack was not managing either threat or control. Another short ball from Leach and Brathwaite cut forcefully for another boundary: 82-1, Brathwaite 34*, Bracey 38*, 71 needed. Already there was an air of the last rites to the match. Leach offered one outside off that turned into Bobby Bracey a little and beat everything: four byes and just 64 wanted. Leach aiming for the footmarks outside Bracey’s off stump and, briefly, looking much more threatening.

First hour done. Somerset needed a wicket desperately and it arrived in strange circumstances. Very wide ball from de Lange. Brathwaite carved at it and got an under edge that ripped out his middle stump. 89-2, Brathwaite 36 (62 balls, 4x4). In came Tom Lace, needing a score to confirm his promise. Another wicket would makes things interesting and Tom Lace almost provided it with a nervous attempt to snatch a quick single: he was well down the pitch when he realised that Bracey had not moved. Bracey went on the attack: reverse sweep for four, an edge that was stopped just short of the boundary and then a conventional sweep for four – ten from three balls and the little bit of pressure that was built up was relieved. Bracey on 49*, Gloucestershire 99-2, 54 wanted. Paddle-sweep off Leach and Bracey had his 50 (51*, 84 balls, 8x4) and the Shire the hundred up. Bracey gave Leach the charge and hammered the ball just past the bowler, following it with another reverse sweep for four from the last ball: again, 10 off the over and the target down to 44, with Lace still to break his duck. A cover drive for two started Lacy’s account and a No Ball from de Lange brought the target down to 40. Another reverse sweep brought the target below thirty as Bobby Bracey kept on the attack. Wide ball from Leach to Tom Lace who accepted the present gratefully with a cover drive to the boundary that must have made him feel so much better; just 18 required now.

The last few runs came in a rush, as is so often the case. A lovely on-drive from Lace took a boundary from Overton, just 12 wanted, Bracey 77*, Lace 12*. Powerful conventional sweep from Tom Lace and just 7 were needed. A wild wide from Overton, 5 needed. Clip to Deep Backward Square Leg, two to Lace, just 3 needed. Lace pulled hard and the fielder on the boundary managed to cut it off. Scores level. Bobby Bracey, the hero of the match for the Shire to face. Leach in his sights. Full toss, hit through mid-wicket. Four to Bracey to take him to 83*. Lace 20*. And the win.

What a performance from the Shire!     

Retrospective:

During the afternoon session on Day 2, Gloucestershire were 177-6 and collapsing. Somerset were licking their lips and looking at a lead as large as one hundred, depending on how fast the tail was blown away by their highly-rated attack. That was the Somerset high water mark. From there, little went right for them. James Bracey and Matt Taylor showed that there was not too much wrong with the pitch and pushed Gloucestershire up to parity. From there, the pressure passed to the Somerset batsmen who had to set a target. The Somerset implosion was extraordinary. Like the Surrey batsmen the previous week, they saw demons where none existed in the pitch, a product, quite possibly, of not respecting the opposition bowling sufficiently. Although Somerset are famous for their tail-enders bailing them out of trouble, first with bat and then with ball, Gloucestershire kept to plan and made sure that there was to be no recovery.

The result was a first defeat for Somerset at Taunton in four seasons and a first Gloucestershire win at Taunton for twenty-eight.

The gap between Gloucestershire, second in Group 2 and Somerset, third, is now more than full bonus-point win points. Things could potentially get even better for Gloucestershire, as Surrey are facing a possible sanction for ball-tampering as they tried to force a win against Leicestershire.

For Gloucestershire, there were heroes everywhere. Ultimately, the plaudits went to James Bracey, who scored more than 200 runs for once out in the match, led the first innings recovery and shepherded the final morning chase. With 269 runs, including a century and two fifties already, Bracey has the fifth highest run aggregate in the land. Almost as important, though, are the 228 runs and three fifties of Chris Dent. Added to his calm captaincy in both wins, Dent has had a magical start to the season, only lacking a century of his own to be perfect. Kraigg Brathwaite did not get big runs in his debut, but his calm presence on the final morning and participation in a partnership of 79 that killed any chance of an early panic in the batting, showed what Gloucestershire have gained with him at the top of the order.

Among the bowlers, although he has not managed headline figures in any innings, only Ollie Robinson has more wickets than Ryan Higgins in the first two rounds: 13 @ 15.2. Nine wickets for Matt Taylor at 25 apiece and eight, slightly more expensive for David Payne, show how well the bowling unit has performed, while Dominic Goodman came in for a First Class debut and had a fine game (1-36 & 2-19): he will remember that debut over to James Hildreth for many years. Both Graeme van Buuren and George Scott stuck to their supporting roles and helped spell the quicker bowlers, without giving anything away, with van Buuren removing de Lange when Somerset were hoping for some violent blows from him to change the tide. The fielders, with George Hankins and Tom Lace to the fore, backed up their bowlers, holding some excellent catches. Tom Lace will also feel good for getting through a sticky patch at the start of his innings to see Gloucestershire home.

What no one can doubt is that Gloucestershire have made tremendous strides over the winter and, with Dan Worrall to join the attack at the Ageas Bowl, will have the chance to field a full-strength side for the first time in the season.

If you had looked at the fixture list and picked out Hampshire v Gloucestershire as the star game of the early rounds, you might well have been regarded as certifiable. Hampshire have spent several seasons struggling near the foot of Division 1 and many forget that Gloucestershire deservedly won promotion in 2019. However, these are the only two sides in the country that have won their first two games; the side that wins this game would start to build up tremendous momentum towards qualification for the Championship contesting group at the end of the season.

County Championship Round 1: Gloucestershire v Surrey

 

County Championship Round 1

Gloucestershire v Surrey

 

Preview:

County Championship starts do not come harder than a game against a Surrey side that disappointed in 2020, winning one and losing four Bob Willis Trophy matches, finishing fifth in the South Group, but that is packed with star names and that can count with Hashim Amla. Surrey will be desperate to do better in 2021.

In contrast, Gloucestershire are without both their overseas stars, with Kraigg Brathwaite still in preventive quarantine and Dan Worrall yet to arrive, but do welcome back James Bracey, who should become Gloucestershire’s first Test cap since Jon Lewis, sometime in the next twelve months.

2020 was a season of what might have been for the Shire, for whom an abandoned match against Northants and a near miss against Glamorgan were the difference between their eventual fifth place and a more than respectable third in the Group.

Gloucestershire are missing Ben Charlesworth (dislocated shoulder) and Jared Warner (side strain). Without Kraigg Brathwaite and Dan Worrell, James Bracey could be asked to open with Chris Dent, although he will also take the gloves, which could tempt the selectors to go for one of Miles Hammond and George Hankins to open, with Bracey dropping down the order and the loser of Hammond/Hankins missing out from the XIII. With five seamers plus Tom Smith in the squad, it seems likely that the choice of the bowler to miss out will be between Josh Shaw and George Scott, with the former probably favourite to play given his good pre-season form.

Surrey have an embarrassment of riches, with five England winter tourists and Amla available, even though Kemar Roach is waiting to leave quarantine. Surrey bring two spinners, but surely will not play both.  A top order of Rory Burns, Mark Stoneman and Hashim Amla with Ollie Pope to follow will test the Gloucestershire new ball attack. Similarly, Jamie Overton, Reece Topley, Matthew Dunne and Jordan Clarke will test the Gloucestershire openers.

With ten games played back-to-back and the Bristol track not normally helping the bowlers much, one suspects that both sides will be satisfied with a solid opening draw rather than risking defeat in the search for victory.

Let battle commence!

Day 1:

Six out of nine captains to win the toss decided to bowl and Chris Dent did not buck that trend, inserting Surrey. Looking, with an eye to the sky, Miles Hammond and Tom Smith missed out, with Gloucestershire fielding five seamers, supplemented by van Buuren, but lengthening the batting in the process. In contrast, Surrey included spin in the form of Amar Virdi, who is very much in the England frame, while the very promising seamer, Matt Dunne, missed out.

Omens are not so good for the Shire, with Surrey victorious in three of the last five meetings back to 2011, although the matches in 2011 and 2014 were both close. Only in 2015, when Surrey were unstoppable, was the match genuinely one-sided.

The sun came out intermittently to join the cold wind that saw most fielders wearing at least two sweaters, David Payne took the first over against two (currently) former England openers in Rory Burns and Mark Stoneman, opening with a solid maiden and the season was in progress. With Ryan Higgins solid at the other end, the first 21 balls of the day were dots, before Stoneman broke the sequence with a boundary. Rory Burns then took a boundary from David Payne before, two balls later, edging a nice outswinger, to George Hankins. Surrey 8-1 and David Payne with the first wicket of the season for the Shire. In the next over, the sequence repeated: boundary to Stoneman and, two balls later, Ryan Higgins trapped him LBW. Surrey 12-2 and in some strife.

However, when you have the opposition 12-2 and the new batsmen average 48.3 (Amla) and 50.5 (Pope), you know that there is a lot of hard work to do.  After 13 overs, with Surrey 34-2 and re-building, first Josh Shaw relieved Ryan Higgins, then Matt Taylor replaced David Payne. It looked as if the hard-won advantage might be slipping away until Ollie Pope went after Josh Shaw. Straight to Scott at Backward Point. 48-3. Thanks very much. It was to set the pattern for the day. Every time a partnership started to build, it ended abruptly.

Immediately afterwards we saw one of those bizarre, COVID-induced moments. Smashing drive from Amla off Taylor. Higgins a distant second in the chase. The ball then hopped the fence and went into the commentators’ marquee, where protocol established that the fielder could not chase it and the commentators could not touch the ball to return it. Some nifty footwork from Radio Bristol’s Mr. Lamb and a pass that might get the injury-strapped Bristol City interested. Problem solved and Surrey commentator, Mark Church, looking at the score and speculating hopefully how much lacquer was taken off the ball with the kick.

91-3 at Lunch. Amla a menacing 47*. Foakes on 8*. Surrey wrestling back the advantage yet, of the three sides batting first in Group 2, Surrey were in clearly the worst position.

As Amla passed serenely his fifty and the score advanced, Gloucestershire’s fine position in mid-morning was again threatening to melt away. Enter Josh Shaw to pin Amla LBW for 56. 109-4. Match back in the balance and Josh Shaw showing how much he has advanced since he joined the club. Then Ryan Higgins got his second LBW of the day and Foakes went for 26. Surrey 136-5.

Higgins to Jordan Clark. Edge to the waiting Bracey behind. 144-6 and Surrey’s careful pre-Lunch re-build in tatters. There had been 21 boundaries so far – 84 of 144 runs – and one wondered if the batsmen had forgotten how to grind out an innings instead of launching themselves at anything remotely loose. Case in point: between the 7^th and 8^th wickets there were 15 deliveries, with 4x4, 9 dot balls and 2 wickets. No strike rotation. No pushing singles and twos, just dot, boundary or wicket. All thud and blunder, little application. Josh Shaw was not complaining – he bowled Smith and Atkinson to sit on figures of 14-2-39-4. Surrey 185-8 and struggling.

The big question for the Shire was whether or not they could finish the job. However, in this task, the bowlers have found a willing ally in the Surrey batsmen. Jamie Overton was another to get a start and then get out: bowled by Sid Payne for 40; the fourth Surrey batsman to reach 20, but not to pass 40. With two genuine batting rabbits at the crease, the bowlers were scenting blood. And then, of course, the heavens opened.

That was that for the day. A day that, every time Surrey seemed to be getting back on an even keel, a wicket fell. It has been a good day for the Shire – 2-49 for David Payne. Wonderful figures of 19-10-35-3 for Ryan Higgins. 4-48 for Josh Shaw and a chance of best First Class figures on the morrow – now, the bowlers will want that final wicket to fall quickly and for the batsmen to make some runs to back up the fine bowling effort.

We will be back tomorrow to see what happens. You sense a huge opportunity here for Gloucestershire.

Day 2:

After only 70 of 96 overs were possible on Day 1, the Shire wanted to finish off the innings quickly and then get runs on the board.

On an overcast morning, although slightly less bitterly cold, David Payne took just three balls to get Topley to edge behind, finishing with 3-49 and Surrey, 220ao. All in all a good bowling effort, although there was a feeling that runs had come a little too easily at times against the fourth and fifth bowlers.

So, who would open with Chris Dent? Surprise, Surprise, it was James Bracey after all who, with the background of seagull calls, took first strike and started the Gloucestershire chase with a single from Reece Topley’s third ball. Topley soon settled into a testing rhythm, using his height to discomfort the batsmen. At the other end, Gus Atkinson was playing just his third match for Surrey, hoping to exploit the overhead conditions with his gentle medium pace more than Overton’s out and out aggression would. Either way, Chris Dent took the last three balls of Topley’s third over for 4, 4 & 2 and Gloucestershire were on their way. After ten overs it was 35-0 and the new ball thrust had been seen off. Jamie Overton entered the attack.

The fifty came up from the first ball of the thirteenth over with Dent 27* and Bracey 19*. It was almost alarmingly comfortable, with only one significant appeal in the first twelve overs and boundaries starting to flow. The selectors were at the ground, watching the action; talk was that they wanted to see Reece Topley, but they could well also be interested to see how James Bracey shaped up (and, just possibly, with the England opening position still not nailed down by anyone, even Chris Dent). At this stage they must have been enjoying the calm batting that they were seeing.

Dent reached his 50 (55 balls, 7x4, 1x6) with an imperious pull for six over midwicket and Gloucestershire were flying at 91-0, made at 4.8 per over. Surrey’s response was to bring on Amar Virdi. Down the track came Dent for a lovely boundary. The hundred up just five balls into the twentieth over and nine from the over. Bracey followed him to a more sedate fifty (81 balls, 4x4) as the strategy became clear: Dent was going to go after the fourth seamer and spinner, trying to make them too expensive to use, while taking any opportunity against the other bowlers. Bracey accumulated at the other end, offering a broad bat and tiring the bowlers. Finally, just as Surrey were eying the prospect of a really indigestible Lunch score, a disappointed Bracey fell LBW to Virdi, for 54. 139-1 and the Shire dominant. There was just time for Dent to add three more to move to 74* before lunch was taken at 142-1.

Tom Lace should have fallen to the fifth ball after Lunch. He slashed hard at Reece Topley, straight through the hands of Second Slip. The ball went for a boundary to add insult to injury. It was a hard chance, due to the speed of the ball, but one that should have been taken. This was symptomatic of the Surrey effort in the morning: even Virdi bowled a No Ball, there were misfields and a sense that their heads had gone down. However, despite Lace’s escape, a wicket fell rapidly after Lunch, but in unfortunate circumstances. Topley first bowled a outswinging jaffa that beat Chris Dent all ends up. Then, Dent went to leave the next ball, only managing somehow to inside edge it onto the stumps as he hesitated when lifting the bat over his own head. Dent out for 74 and the Shire 147-2.

Suddenly, it was tense again. Topley was bowling with good pace and getting a lot of movement. Van Buuren went after a wide one, edged to Third Slip, who knocked it up into the air. Second and Third Slips both lunged for the rebound, but were beaten to it by Ben Foakes who pouched the catch. 139-1 had become 157-3 and the Shire were wobbling.

For a time the bowling was energised and Lace and Hankins struggled to survive. Slowly though, they rebuilt and Hankins brought up the 200 in the 49^th over with a crashing cover drive. Hankins seemed to find life at #5 so much more to his liking than opening, as he did last season. At the same time, you could see why Middlesex were so disappointed to lose Tom Lace: he batted with great maturity and security. The fifty partnership came up with the batsmen looking increasingly comfortable. Topley was brought back for a third spell to restore order and immediately pinned Hankins LBW for 22. He had done a job but, as happened several times last season, he could not push on once the hard work of getting in was done. 209-4 and Topley proving a real handful, but getting little support. Clark tried the centre of the pitch and Ryan Higgins despatched him dismissively for successive boundaries either side of the wicket to put Gloucestershire in the lead. Higgins was looking to counter-attack and suddenly runs started to flow again.

Live by the sword. Die by the sword. Higgins missed a straight one and Atkinson hammered the ball into the pad. Higgins walked even before Umpire Blackwell raised the finger. 234-5 and hopes of 350+ and batting just once, receding. A crashing boundary off Topley took Lacy to his 50 (101 balls, 7x4): his first for the Shire. 244-5 at Tea, 24 ahead. Lace 52*, Taylor 0*. 102-4 in the session.

One more partnership and you felt that the Shire could take a stranglehold on the match. Two wickets and Surrey would be right back in the game.

The players came out wearing black armbands for the death of Prince Philip (a fair spinner, in his day), the watery sunshine enough to persuade Tom Lace to bat in a short-sleeved shirt and no sweater. After a quiet spell, he aimed a huge slog-sweep at a full Virdi delivery and departed for 65 (175 minutes, 9x4). 262-6 and those hopes of a lead of 150+, which had been rising again, had taken a another huge hit. Lace’s sleeping partner at the other end, Jack Taylor, had 3* from 48 balls, but was hanging in there and came to life crashing Overton through the Covers for four, visibly gaining confidence and becoming much busier afterwards, with Scott playing himself in, watchfully. Unfortunately, Scott was not able to take advantage: after 30 balls of almost complete passivity, the New Ball did for him. A wicket for the persevering Atkinson. And David Payne fell immediately afterwards to the still dangerous Topley. 282-3. Suddenly, that third batting point was looking in real danger.

However, Matt Taylor can bat very effectively when he applies himself and Jack Taylor held-on limpet-like at the other end and, as the light got increasingly gloomy, the day ended early with a rush of boundaries as the predicted rain arrived. The Shire 311-8, a third batting point booked. Jack Taylor 26*. Brother Matt, 13*. The lead 91.

The fourth batting point may be too much to hope for, but with Reece Topley already having bowled 22 overs, the Shire will hope that they can get some runs in the morning and then make inroads the second time around, with a lead over 100 in the bank.

Good day for the Shire, but they will think that it could have been even better after the fabulous start to the day. Another good day tomorrow and a 22 or 23-point win will beckon.

 

Day 3:

How many could the last two wickets add? Could the bowlers get among the Surrey batsmen again? Could the Shire set up a last day tilt for victory? Would the Bristol pitch flatten right out? Would rain ruin Gloucestershire’s chances?

So many questions. And it did not take long to get some answers. Jack Taylor fell quickly in the morning, bowled by Topley, adding just a single and Josh Shaw against the still fairly new ball was always going to be a catch-weight contest. Shaw finally edged behind off Atkinson. Just fifteen added and the lead a disappointing 106.

Reece Topley finished with a magnificent 5-66 and Gus Atkinson, 3-78.

Could Gloucestershire make inroads a second time? With the Surrey top five all current or former internationals, the sceptics thought not. However, something is not quite right about this Surrey side that, with so many stars on its books, should be doing so much better than they are.

Mark Stoneman has never been quite the same since taking a blow to the head in England colours. Many fans hoped that a trip down south would revive his form and confidence, but he continues to struggle. He had a terrible time, being dropped three times (a further chance off Burns also went begging), before Ryan Higgins finally put him out of his misery by thudding a straight one into his pads. In-slanted from round the wicket. Stoneman tried to turn it to leg, played all round it. Thanks very much. 41-1 from 12.1 overs. At this point, the bowler’s reward is to see Hashim Amla come in…

Matt Taylor was not at his best in the first innings, but now showed just how destructive he can be when he gets it right. He was getting big swing away from Burns, who was groping at him before getting Amla in his sights. Twelve balls scoreless, including one extraordinary shot that could have gone anywhere, but that ended up rolling to Second Slip off the face of the bat when it was turned towards his own pads (Amla had no idea where it had gone). Taylor angled one across him, Bracey took the edge and Amla walked without waiting for the umpire.  46-2.

In came Ollie Pope. Taylor gave him two sighters and then took his outside edge, with Bracey taking a good, low catch. Pope waited, possibly in the hope that it had not quite carried, but was sent on his way. 48-3 and Surrey in all sorts of trouble again.

Burns and Foakes had a big re-building job to do and set about it. Gloucestershire’s options were limited with Josh Shaw only bowling a single over before leaving the field at Lunch and not coming back out. They slowly worked off the deficit, despite Payne giving Foakes all kinds of problems. A boundary off Taylor brought up the fifty partnership and the hundred. Foakes edged and Warner (fielding for Shaw) almost took a low catch at Third Slip, although it seemed that the ball had not quite carried. Gloucestershire were trying their hearts out, but it was not quite happening for them.

Burns reached his fifty (93 balls, 5x4) and Surrey got into the lead. Taylor and Payne were seen off and on came Higgins and Scott, with the Shire desperately needing to end the partnership. The change almost brought a wicket as Foakes hit the ball into the covers and there was a beautiful “Yes! No! Wait! Sorry!” piece of calling. Lace misfielded, the batsmen went on the misfield, Had Lace’s throw hit the stumps, Burns would have been gone as Bracey scrambled up to the stumps to try to cover the throw. Once again, it was not quite happening, but enough was going on that you felt that three quick wickets were as likely as the hundred partnership. Higgins hit Burns on the pad. Loud shout, but probably a little too high and pitching outside leg. 118-3 and Surrey, if not on top, were grinding the bowling down.

Surrey were getting right on top. Runs were beginning to flow. Short ball from Scott. Compulsive hook from Burns sent up into orbit. David Payne underneath, half blinded by the Sun. Payne pouched it after what seemed like an age waiting. 145-4, effectively 39-4 and the good work done by Burns (74 runs, 130 balls, 13x4) was undone by a strange rush of blood. With Foakes on 49* and Smith at the other end, Bracey advanced to the stumps for Higgins, retreating again when there was a bye. Suddenly things were happening for Higgins: one ball outside off went through at one-third stump height, another swung in massively and bounced. Foakes finally reached his 50 (92 balls, 9x4) with a drive down the ground off Scott. He had been trapped in the 40s for what seemed like an age. Would his 50 release him? Not a bit of it! He continued unwilling, or unable, to score: 12 balls on 53 before van Buuren produced a horrible delivery that a more confident batsmen would have slapped away for six, but Foakes got two for thanks to a misfield. The spell was broken and, suddenly, if briefly, runs started to flow again.

As Tea approached, David Payne looked totally shot and, with the new ball coming in the last hour of the day, Chris Dent had to think about conserving his main bowlers without losing control. Last ball before Tea. Last effort from Payne. Straight through Smith like a shell. Off stump cartwheeling. Smith 27 and Surrey 187-5, effectively 81-5. An awful moment for Surrey to lose a wicket.

It was a seminal moment. Payne appeared exhausted at the start of the over, but visibly wound himself up for a final effort for the last two deliveries before the break. His cry of joy and sinking to his knees was a classic reaction.

Out after Tea, van Buuren and Matt Taylor in partnership and Foakes looking in trouble outside off stump every time Taylor got the 5^th stump line right. Taylor had two, loud LBW shouts: the first against Foakes looked well outside off, the second, against Clark, looked very close. Tension was rising again. Then Foakes pushed to Point and set off, not realising that Clark was totally uninterested in the run: George Scott’s shy missed, otherwise Foakes would have been on his way. Foakes was getting bogged-down, nervous and frustrated. However, he saw it though and, finally Matt Taylor had to be rested, with George Scott replacing him as the light got increasingly gloomy and the partnership passed 40.  Van Buuren finally found a magic ball, Foakes overbalanced slightly and Bobby Bracey whipped off the bails, but it seemed that the back foot was anchored. Three balls later the umpires took the players off for bad light. Not long after, as the ground staff applied full covers, the rain started to beat down and the picture looked very bleak.

232-5. 126 ahead. Match in the balance.

Gloucestershire are still favourites, but will need to wrap up the innings with the new ball. If Surrey bat past Lunch, a draw will be the most likely result.

Day 4:

The match situation looked pretty simple. If Surrey saw off the new ball and got past Lunch, the match was looking like a likely draw. With the likelihood that overs would again be lost at the end of the day, the prospects of Surrey getting far enough ahead to declare and bowl out the Shire, looked remote. The best chance of a result, barring an early clatter of wickets, was for Surrey to be bowled out 220 or 230 ahead.

What no one imagined is that is what would happen.

For most of the morning, little seemed to happen. The bowlers could not conjure chances. The pitch looked flat and the bowling did nothing. For the sceptics, this was their perfect Day 4 scenario: a stalemate on a dead Bristol pitch. The new ball came and went and the feeling of foreboding increased. Up came the Ben Foakes century, the Clark 50, the 200 lead. You even wondered if Surrey were trying to set up a declaration. Nothing was happening at all for the bowlers. A single chance came all that time… and was missed.

318-5. 15 overs into the new ball. All over for the Shire?

Then, the unexpected happened. Matt Taylor got one through Jordan Clark and Surrey fell apart. Clark fell for 52 (119 balls, 7x4). 318-6. An end open? Lunch approaching, the Rhino, who had had a quiet match so far, with the ball. Overton pinned LBW for 1. Atkinson came in. First ball full on middle and straight into the pad. Higgins on a hat-trick and 318-5 had become 327-8. Surely this was too late to matter?

Reece Topley took an age to come out, knowing that there were just 4 minutes to Lunch. There was some “chat” either way about his time-wasting and a suggestion that he was risking an appeal for Timed Out. However, it worked from the Surrey point of view, in that David Payne’s over was the last before Lunch and the hat-trick ball was delayed.

Foakes faced the first ball after Lunch and kept it out safely, but then offered a very low chance off Matt Taylor that Bracey took brilliantly – a real touch of Alan Knott in his dive and pouching. Foakes out for 133 (250 balls, 18x4). It was not a pretty innings. He seemed to be struggling for much of it, but he hung on and always forgot the previous ball.

In came Virdi. 331-9. Lead 226 and you felt that Surrey’s best chance of a win was if the last wicket fell quickly. A quick single. Confusion in the running. Tom Lace took aim from Mid-off and, this time, hit. Virdi was run out by a distance.

318-5 had become 333ao. It was an astonishing Surrey collapse.

Gloucestershire were set 228 to win from 63 overs minus anything that bad light took off. It looked unlikely, but Dent and Bracey set off with gusto. Topley, possibly stiff from his first innings exertions, did not have the fire of the first day. Atkinson was unable to keep a good line and length and offered plenty to hit. The result was that the Shire were 33-0 from just 5 overs and flying. On came Amar Virdi and suddenly the game looked different. A pinpoint maiden to Bracey was followed by a tight over from Topley. Suddenly Bracey seemed to think that he needed to release the pressure. He charged down the wicket and just lobbed a gentle catch to Mid-On (35-1, Bracey 14, 28 balls, 2x4). In came Tom Lace who lasted just six balls before edging low to 3^rd Slip. 36-2.

Virdi was bowling with great accuracy and allowing no liberties. Three overs. Three maidens before Chris Dent worked him square for two and spoilt his perfect figures.

Fifty up in the 13^th over. Then Topley bounced van Buuren who hooked a massive six. Last ball of the over driven for 4. 11 off the over. 13 overs, 60-2. Surely Gloucestershire couldn’t chase this? Virdi bowled a little short and wide and Graeme van Buuren cut powerfully for a boundary. Then a half-stopped on-drive to an over-pitched delivery went for another boundary. GvB was obviously trying to hit Virdi off his length and it was working.

The punishment that Topley had taken in his previous over led to Overton replacing him. Virdi met a similar fate and was banished to the naughty corner too, with Clark replacing him. It made no difference. Van Buuren was going after everything, playing a classic white-ball innings and no Surrey bowler was capable to sending down a straight Yorker at him. There were edges, mishits, lofted shots that evaded fielders – anything but classic coaching manual stuff, but he was winning the battle and Dent was keeping him company, batting busily, but taking no risks. Honestly, the England selectors could do worse than take a look at Chris Dent. Gloucestershire were going at 5-an-over and Surrey looked short of ideas.

The 100 came up with the second ball of the 21^st over, which was also van Buuren’s 5000 First Class runs. 103-2, 126 to win. A nominal run-rate required under 3. With the seamers failing to obtain control – or any realistic threat – Virdi came back and GvB crashed his first ball through the covers to reach his 50 (44 balls, 9x4, 1x6). You could not take your eyes off the cricket. Quick singles, carefully placed twos and all salted with boundaries. Every delivery was an event.

113-2 at Tea. Dent 41*. GvB 54*. 114 to win.

With a storm approaching across the Bristol Channel, the Shire had to hurry. Surrey helped, with both Virdi and Topley offering boundary balls with their respective first deliveries after Tea. Surrey knew that rain was coming and seemed determined to waste time as much as possible, showing that they were only thinking of hanging-on for the draw. The ground was bathed in sunshine still, but it was obvious that it would not last.

Two quiet overs and it almost looked as if the batsmen knew that they had time to spare and could play themselves back in after Tea. Up came Dent’s 50 (71 balls, 4x4), 144-2, 83 wanted. He was playing second fiddle and just closing-up an end so that GvB could attack at the other. Under the pressure, Virdi kept bowling no balls and the impression was that Surrey had given up on the game. Dent then hit Virdi over the top and the target was down to 73. As the first dark clouds appeared on the horizon, the batsmen were pressuring the fielders on the singles and twos and there were enough bad balls that boundaries were coming regularly. Short ball at medium pace from Topley, GvB pulled and straight over Virdi at Fine Leg for six. 61 wanted, GvB 84*. Amazing.

On came Clark. Dent pulled him gloriously for a boundary to bring the target under 50. The Sun went in and Gloucs started to hit out with even more urgency. 28 from the last 3 overs. 182-2. 45 wanted. As Surrey wasted time disgracefully, rain arrived, with 43 to win. It looked like a brief shower, but the light was becoming an issue again.

The rain cleared. Sun out and the groundstaff were actually jogging to get to the covers. Re-start at 17:20, with 10 overs lost. The batsmen just had to hit at everything and hope to beat the light and any further rain.

Overton bowled a short, wide, long-hop and van Buuren crashed it for 4. 33 wanted. GvB 97*.

A bouncer, outside off. Hook. Boundary. Van Buuren’s century, his first at Bristol and first since his debut season. 101* (91 balls, 15x4, 2x6). Brilliant. 29 needed.

 Van Buuren was now in full white-ball mode. 200-2. Dent 72*, GvB, 102*. Misdirected bouncer from Overton, hooked for 4 by Dent. Overton responded by flinging the next delivery down almost to the wide slip. A wide to help the cause. 20 wanted. Jordan delivers it in the slot ad GvB smashed it over the bowler’s head for 4. Next ball, a repeat. 12 to win. Wide, wide ball that Foakes couldn’t stop and a bye was added. Another boundary to Dent, just 7 wanted. A two, 5 to win. Dent thrashes the ball towards the boundary and Amla did not even chase, with the batsmen running an easy 3 as the ball stopped short of the rope. Comic cricket. 18 off the over. 2 to win.

Overton to Dent. Wide. Dent slashes. A boundary and Gloucestershire win with a lot of time to spare.

229-2, Dent 91* (97 balls, 9x4), Graeme van Buuren 110* (98 balls, 17x4, 2x6). It was a textbook chase. Surrey will wonder what might have been had they taken the rather easy chance that van Buuren had offered early in his innings, but their capitulation was sad to watch and one suspects that they would have lost even that catch had been taken. It is fair to say that they have must have some issues somewhere because such a talented squad should not be losing so regularly, even with a few players unavailable.

22 points for the Shire, second in the Group. It was a pretty good start to the season. Well played the Shire!!! A reward for persistence and positivity.

Retrospective:

Sometimes it is best to wait a couple of days to react after a game like this. It was an extraordinary finish to a most peculiar game that featured a mix of big partnerships and amazing collapses.

In the heat of the moment, the fan vote gave the MoM award to Graeme van Buuren. It was an emotional response and a logical one but, looking back at the game, the Captain had an extraordinary four days and probably deserved it most. Scores of 73 & 91*, scored at 88 runs per hundred balls. Calm captaincy when it seemed as if the match was slipping away. Critical stands with Bracey in the first innings and with van Buuren in the second that first set up a first innings lead and then the chase of the target, were essential to the win. Although he looked slow in comparison with van Buuren’s bombardment,  he scored a rapid pace, without taking great risks, by being busy – pushing ones and twos, looking for the boundary balls when they were there. And anchoring the chase, allowing Graeme van Buuren to enjoy him himself and play shots.

It was also a good game for the new coach. Ian Harvey played positively: even if not quite in the Ian Botham class (who is?) he knew how to turn around a match situation with bat and ball. It was remarkable to see the Shire take a game that had lost the best part of two full sessions, on a typically pretty flat Bristol pitch – the demons in the surface were largely in the minds of the Surrey batsmen – and get the win with positive cricket. Even losing a bowler, Gloucestershire were able to bowl out a star-laden Surrey batting line-up twice. Playing positive cricket like this may not work always. Not all sides will provide the facilities that Surrey provided with bat and ball, but it provides a new dimension to the team and one that will help them to compete with sides that have much larger cheque-books.

It was also a game in which almost everyone contributed. The top four all managed at least one substantial score. Bracey took some wonderful catches and looked just as good as Foakes. All four front-line seamers took wickets. And George Scott provided a critical breakthrough in the second innings.

Let’s not get over-excited. This was one game. And we now play the side that rolled us over very cheaply four times last season (twice in pre-season and twice in the BWT game). Come away from Taunton with a good draw or a win and then we can really start to get excited about prospects for the season.

Gloucestershire v Exeter University … and a Star Signing - 20210402

 

Gloucestershire v Exeter University

… and a Star Signing

April 2^nd 2021

 

When you wake up to the news on April 1^st that the Shire have signed a current Test captain and opening bat, addressing the issue of providing Chris Dent with the class support at the top of the order, one’s first reaction is to look at the date… and smile knowingly. When this news follows a second innings collapse to 34-3 against a modest university side, you say “if only…”

Actually, it is true and, as fans who were following the game pointed out, the collapse was not what it seemed to be.

Gloucestershire completed a huge win – 382 runs is a big margin in anyone’s book – declined to enforce the follow-on and re-shuffled the batting order to give extra batsmen practice. Chris Dent opened with a happily fit-again Benny Howell in the first innings and retired just short of a rapid century (82, with 13x4, in 91 balls), while James Bracey came into the side and opened with Benny Howell in the second. Although the opposition was not quite as strong as Surrey or Somerset, there were 50s for Howell, Dent and Ryan Higgins in the first innings and for van Buuren and Cockbain in the second, with plenty of batsmen getting some useful middle time. All six bowlers took at least one wicket, with the match figures 7-45 of Matt Taylor the star turn, supported by 5-38 for David Payne and 3-34 for Josh Shaw.

While Benny Howell was able to join the T20 campaign at the end of the season, he was clearly feeling his way back to fitness in the early games. Not called on to bowl in this match, his calm presence in the middle order and accurate medium pace were sorely missed in the Bob Willis Trophy campaign. Having Benny Howell available for red-ball cricket increases both the batting options and gives the captain someone to turn to as a partnership breaker, even if he is unlikely to bowl a lot of overs with the red ball.

So, pre-season has ended with a much more positive balance than in 2020. Four matches, three wins and a draw (although, you could argue that the 2-day game was a win, given that it was always going to be one day batting for each side and the Shire did obtain a massive advantage). In three red-ball innings, 400 has been reached twice and would surely have been reached a third time had Gloucestershire not declared after just 44 overs in their second innings against Exeter Uni. There will be harder tests to come: Somerset may not be quite as friendly at Taunton on April 15^th as they were on March 23^rd and opening Championship fixtures do not come tougher than Surrey, but the side should start with more confidence this season than they did the last.

However, even if Dan Worrall’s availability looks like being rather more reduced than initially looked possible, another item on the Gloucestershire bucket list for the season has been ticked off. If you have been following West Indian cricket recently, you will not have failed to notice that Kraigg Brathwaite averages over 40 in his last ten Tests and has just scored 126 and 85 against Sri Lanka as he tries to flog a result and a series win out of a dead North Sound pitch. Brathwaite is an old-style opener, who has accumulated as he has watched wickets falling at the other end, building an innings and narrowly failing to carry his bat in the first innings. You could not fail to be impressed by his approach, which included finishing the first day on 99*: a positively Boycottian example of self-denial.

Now, fans will have the prospect of watching Chris Dent walk out with the currently West Indies captain, who is in a bit of form and setting a solid base to the Gloucestershire innings. Available for most of the campaign bar the last two matches at Cheltenham, he will probably miss the season opener against Surrey at Bristol due to COVID-19 quarantine, but will still play seven Championship matches, which is unusual for such a high profile overseas player. It is a pretty good signing.

It is also a good signing on other levels. First, as a current Test captain, he will be able to help Chris Dent in the field. His vast experience – 68 Tests since 2011 – will be available to the young players in the squad. And, he is also a useful off-spinner (rather more than an occasional bowler, although by no means a front-line spinner), with a Test 6-for and took 3-25 against Bangladesh in Dhaka a few weeks ago: he will not bowl out a side on a greentop at Lord’s, but he will offer an additional option should the Shire come up with a pitch that offers something the spinners, which will undoubtedly give Tom Smith the support and encouragement that he needs to develop further.

For now, Gloucestershire can approach that opening match at Bristol on April 8^th with more confidence, even if neither of their overseas stars will be available. If the Bristol pitch lives up to its fame for lifelessness and we can come out of the game with a share of the points and an honourable draw, that would be a decent start.