County Championship Round 14 Gloucestershire v Durham

 

 

County Championship Round 14

Gloucestershire v Durham

 

Preview:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Day 1:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Day 2:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Day 2:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

County Championship Round 13 Glamorgan v Gloucestershire

 

 

 

County Championship Round 13

Glamorgan v Gloucestershire

 

Preview:

An unchanged squad for the trip to Sofia Gardens and a game against a side beaten by an innings in their first two Division 2 games. Late drama, though, as Ben Wells replaced James Bracey in the final XI, making his First Class debut in the process after Bracey suffered concussion in training.

Day 1:

No Report

Day 2:

A grey and sparsely attended morning at Sofia Gardens. A brown pitch, with no hint of green. Gloucestershire needed a fast start and got one. It took David Payne just three balls to break the stubborn seventh wicket partnership of 73 as Salter left a delivery that came back a long way and was bowled: 264-7. This still left the Shire with thirteen and a half overs to take two more wickets for full bowling points. The first of them came in Ryan Higgins’ second over when Smith prodded outside off and Tom Lace took a superb, low chance, diving full length at Third Slip: 279-8. Batting was certainly interesting as Byrom first tried to uppercut a Payne bouncer, without making contact, seeing the ball fly way over Ben Wells’ head for four byes. The second ball of the over was edged short of Miles Hammond at 1^st Slip and the third was nudged for a quick single, with the batsman struggling had Chris Dent’s throw hit. The third Glamorgan batting point which, at start of play, looked like a banker, was looking a much more iffy proposition. Byrom, though, showed a great trust in #10, van der Gugten, being willing to take a single even from the first ball of the over.  Five overs left for bonus points and van der Gugten, who averages 16 in FC cricket, was doing more than just survive: one wicket needed by the Shire, four runs for Glamorgan. And up came the Glamorgan 300 in the 106^th over, with the ninth wicket stand at 22 and growing. Now, it was just a matter of whether or not Gloucestershire could take a wicket in the next four overs.

Chris Dent asked for – and got – a change of ball. Not for the first time it did the trick: first ball with the new nut Byrom cut, got an inside edge and saw his stumps re-arranged. David Payne had ended a fine innings of 78 and obtained the third bowling bonus point. Van der Gugten then offered a wild, head up slash at Ryan Higgins and edged through to Ben Wells: 309ao. Glamorgan would not be unhappy with that after being put in. However, after an opening stand of 136, only the seventh wicket partnership offered much.

Out came Chris Dent, restored to opening, with Miles Hammond. The good work of Hogan’s opening spell – 6 overs for 7 runs – was somewhat wasted as Smith, playing his first Championship game of the summer, was pressing too hard and inaccurate, going for 32 in his first five overs. Up came the fifty in the 15^th over, from the last ball before Lunch, as Miles Hammond cut Smith savagely for four. Dent 22*, Hammond 27*, 32 of the 53 runs so far in boundaries.

On came Salter, the spinner and Miles Hammond sent him way back over his head for a lofted boundary that bounced into the public. Unfortunately, he did not get much further, as he then edged Hogan and Cook, the wicket-keeper, took a magnificent one-handed catch in front of Slip. The ball would not have carried and Cook’s effort was superb: 63-1, Miles Hammond 35. In came Tom Lace at #3 in a re-jigged batting order. After a good start, Lloyd came on to bowl some gentle medium pace with the batsmen seemingly in no difficultly. Tom Lace drove hard at two that he missed but, the third tempter outside off took his edge and Cook made another, tremendous catch. 90-2, some of the shine going off the start. Tom Lace out for 12 just when he looked in prime form and set for a score. Two boundaries in an over set Graeme van Buuren on his way and brought up the 100 in the 32^nd over. All the while, Chris Dent was accumulating quietly and reached his fifth 50 of the season with a clip to leg for two from a misdirected ball from Lloyd (108 balls, 5x4).

On came Douthwaite. His first ball was called a wide. His second, which was actually slightly wider still but not called by a benevolent Umpire Blackwell: when Graeme van Buuren finally got a ball that he could reach… just… an edge raced down to the Third Man boundary. Up came the fifty partnership  in the 43^rd over. 166-2 from 50 overs at Tea. Chris Dent 67*, Graeme van Buuren 44*, the partnership 76, made in good time. With the likelihood that much or all of Day 3 could be lost to rain, it would be imperative for the Shire to push on after Tea; similarly, Glamorgan needed wickets.

The strong impression was that the support bowling offered little threat, an impression reinforced when Douthwaite’s first over after Tea offered two boundary balls. Chris Dent was possibly lured into a false sense of security when, with the partnership approaching the century, he tried to ramp Salter and was bowled round his legs. 184-3, Chris Dent 75 (153 balls, 8x4). Ryan Higgins lasted just three balls and was pinned LBW on the back foot to Salter: 184-4 and two wickets in the over, just when Glamorgan were starting to wonder where a wicket might come from. This brought in Ben Wells for his debut innings, in place of the injured Ben Charlesworth who, having been off the field for an extended period, had to bat down the order. Ben Wells has a 50 for the 2^nd XI in 2021 and, unusually, a century in 2021 too, in a T20 for Somerset 2^nd XI. Salter dropped short to van Buuren and the ball vanished to the boundary to bring up his 50 (87 balls, 10x4). A controlled edge for four by Ben Wells brought up the 200 and a batting point.

It became a matter of just how many overs would be bowled after Tea before the light went. Twelve overs were lost at the end of the day but, in the time before the umpires brought a halt, Ben Wells showed that he is a capable bat, reaching 23* and playing some pleasing shots. As is his wont, having started with a big crash of runs – scored initially at almost at a run-a-ball – Graeme van Buuren slowed as his innings advanced and he finished on 65*. 224-4 from 70 overs at the Close, 85 behind. The chances of a result will depend on how much play is possible on Day 3 and which of the two sides manages to take best advantage of it.

Day 3:

Astonishing events at Cardiff. After starting Day 3 with the first innings lead still in dispute, the day ended with Glamorgan facing a third consecutive innings defeat. Only bad light has saved them for this possible humiliation.

On a wet day around the country, play only started on time at Taunton and Cardiff, with 104 overs scheduled, but no confidence that they would be possible. Everywhere else there was a delayed start due to rain. The on-time start did not do Graeme van Buuren any favours as, second ball of the morning he missed one from Lloyd that hit him in front of middle, although the ball may have been heading led-side. No addition to the overnight score: 224-5, Graeme van Buuren 65 and not the start the Gloucestershire needed. Even so, Ben Charlesworth showed no signs of discomfort when he came out . He played positively, with 20 of his first 24 runs coming in boundaries. Ben Wells continued to bat well and brought up the 250 and second batting point in the 77^th over. Hogan and van der Gugten took the New Ball, needing a wicket with it. The first three overs with the New Ball brought eight runs, including a Charlesworth boundary but, in his second over with the New Ball, van der Gugten had Ben Wells in a lot of trouble and, finally, got his reward with an edge to 2^nd Slip: Ben Wells out for a very competent 40 (94 balls, 7x4).

For Zafar, this was the first time that he had batted for the Shire in a situation other than one of deep crisis and he responded by getting off the mark first ball. The mission for this pairing was to get up to parity and, if possible, start to build a lead before the tail was exposed. However, the seventh over with the New Ball saw Zafar fishing outside off and Cooke taking another wonderful catch with a swan-dive in front of Slip: 279-7 and hopes of a significant lead fading. Tom Price was greeted with a short ball from Hogan and was unconvincing in playing it but, as the Sun tried to poke through the cloud, van der Gugten offered him something to drive and he responded with consecutive boundaries. At 288-7 from 90 overs, a third batting point was certainly expected and a fourth, not impossible. Much depended on Ben Charlesworth if a significant lead were to be established and a possible tilt at a fourth batting point. Tom Price, once again, offered solid support and, together, they put on 31 and brought up the 300 and the third batting point, as well as getting into the lead before Smith, who was a lot more accurate today, bowled Ben Charlesworth.

316-8 at Lunch. Five overs left for bonus points, with the third Glamorgan bowling point looking a lot more likely than the fourth Gloucestershire batting point. The lead just 7. How many could the tail add to that, with Tom Price 16* and David Payne 5*?

With the light gloomy again, Tom Price came out aggressively, seemingly looking at that fourth batting point. A couple of lofted shots suggested that a real attempt would be made to get quick runs. Glamorgan reacted by adding a couple of boundary fielders. A quiet over from Salter followed and, with 25 needed in 12 balls to reach 350, it seemed more likely that it would be more a matter of denying Glamorgan a bowling point.

So, after 110 overs, Gloucestershire 327-8 and the bonus points split 6-5 in favour of the Shire.

There then followed a period of phoney war. Gloucestershire scored but slowly, while Glamorgan were being frustrated not to able to finish off the innings. When he puts his mind to it, David Payne can be a tough nut to crack and he demonstrated it by not flinching at a short ball and running the “head bye” enthusiastically as it caroomed off his helmet to Fine Leg. It was all the more surprising when Payne advanced down the wicket to Salter and lofted him high into a ground, where a helpful patron threw it back, leading to an unscheduled ball sanitisation break. Tom Price took his lead from that and helped himself to a boundary from the first ball of the next over from Smith, who then bounced David Payne and saw the ball hooked confidently to the man on the Square Leg boundary. Salter landed one in David Payne’s hitting zone and watched the ball fly back over his head, dropping just short of the rope to bring up the 350 in the 116^th over. 21 from the last three overs!

With the lead approaching fifty, on came Douthwaite with his “variations”, this time favouring leg side. He opened with a No Ball. A couple of singles brought up the 50 lead and another, next delivery, brought up the 50 partnership. The fun ended when David Payne, who had been playing some shots more associated with the Blast, edged a ball from Douthwaite that was outside off and Cooke took a routine catch. 379-9, Payne 34 (72 balls, 3x4, 1x6), the stand 69 and the lead, 70. It was David Payne’s best innings of the season, valuable runs for the Shire and the total was already the highest of the season of the Shire by some distance. And still the innings continued. Douthwaite gave Tom Price width and Price went to his 50 with a flashing Cover Drive (127 balls, 7x4). Another very wide ball followed and was cut hard for the second boundary of the over, taking the score to 396-9. You could start to dream of a first innings of 400 and a lead of 100 and Glamorgan’s body language really started to droop at the prospect… A runout chance was missed as Tom Price set off for a single that was never there, but the throw missed by a distance. Price then brought up the 400 with a cut for two off Salter and took the lead to 91. Byrom dropped Price – a difficult chance – off a hard-struck shot. However, with Tea approaching, the game was meandering, with neither runs coming, nor the last wicket: would the strategy of keeping Glamorgan in the field lead to wickets when they batted on what seemed to be an increasingly flat pitch?

With Tea delayed, Tom Price cut van der Gugten for the four that took the lead over 100. Ten came off the over and Jared Warner, not so subtly, called for a drink, the standard way of getting instructions on tactics. Whatever the message was, the score continued to crawl along. Finally, in the 141^st over of the innings, Hogan produced a ball too straight for Tom Price, who missed and was LBW for 71 (165 balls, 9x4). 419a0, the lead 110 and Tea could finally be taken.

Glamorgan were now facing a large first innings deficit for the third consecutive match. The previous two had ended in innings defeats. Here, they would have to bat out the best part of three sessions to save the match, knowing that Gloucestershire would chase any realistic target but, surely, the innings defeat was impossible?

When Glamorgan were 39-0 in the seventh over, little could the full horror of what was to come be imagined. With the ball doing little for Salter, the Glamorgan spinner, you would have got good odds had you bet on Zafar as the destroyer but, a spell of 5-3-3-3 broached no arguments. It was astonishing.

The primary incision, as surgeons call it, was made by David Payne, whose first three overs had gone for 21, with the last ball of the seventh over. Lloyd edged and Miles Hammond accepted the catch. Graeme van Buuren, who was acting as captain on the field, even though Chris Dent was fielding, brought on Zafar and, first ball, he induced an edge from Rutherford, Miles Hammond accepting another catch at 1^st Slip. Both openers had gone in consecutive balls, 39-2 and the floodgates had opened. Zafar started with a wicket maiden. David Payne supported him with consecutive maidens. Zafar had new batsman, Selman, in his sights, still on a duck and put him out of his misery as Ollie Price, on a substitute for Ben Charlesworth, took him at 2^nd Slip. 42-3 and, in just 27 balls, the match had turned.

Things only got worse. In Zafar’s fourth over, Carlson also went for a duck to the Zafar/Ollie Price combo: another catch at 2^nd Slip and, at 46-4, horrible imaginings must have been rising in Welsh hearts. Back came Ryan Higgins, out went Byrom, bowled, leaving disastrously. At 48-5, Gloucestershire were preying and praying for the light to hold a little longer. Ryan Higgins’ spell lasted just two overs as Graeme van Buuren brought himself on as the light faded. With probing spin like this at both ends you do wonder if the Surrey or Leicestershire games would have been lost: Graeme van Buuren showed how much his bowling has advanced by doing immediately for Cooke, the Glamorgan captain, caught by Chris Dent at Mid-Wicket, albeit not off a great shot. 57-6, still 53 behind and Glamorgan facing an innings defeat. With the last 23 balls of the day after the wicket all scoreless, Glamorgan closed on 57-6 and will need a huge effort in the morning to get Gloucestershire to bat again.

In the end, just 7 overs of play were lost when the umpires finally decided to bring the players off due to the encroaching darkness. It has been another remarkable Gloucestershire third innings performance on a pitch that, at Tea, had looked totally lifeless.

Day 4:

Tales of the unexpected. With Gloucestershire 316-8 at Lunch yesterday, you would have got very good odds on them chasing an innings victory on the final morning. That they did not get it was largely down some fairly desperate hitting from the Glamorgan tail and some lucky deflections, but the win came soon enough anyway.

You could argue that the Somerset game early in the season, in which a Gloucestershire surge on Day 3 led to the opposition being bowled out cheaply and leaving a small target, or the sudden Surrey collapse from 318-5 to 333ao were better wins against far stronger opposition but, for sheer cheek, the ruthless despatch of Glamorgan from a position when a draw looked by far the most likely result, takes some beating. With Essex struggling to beat the rain and take the win against Surrey and Northants in a mess against Durham, a little window of hope was opening that Gloucestershire could even go into the Durham game with an outside chance of winning Division 2.

Could the ruthless streak carry through on the final morning? Yes, it could!

Sunshine and a brown pitch greeted the players as, increasingly, blue sky started to appear. Zafar, on figures of 10-6-7-3. A wonderful moment at the start of play when Zafar prepared to bowl the first over before the umpires realised that he had bowled the last over last night and stepped in. So, instead, two Slips and a Silly Point for Ryan Higgins.  Zafar’s first ball turned and beat everyone and everything, going for four byes. The second was swept, went high off a top edge and Miles Hammond could not quite get to it. A more conventional sweep third ball for four and ten had come from Zafar’s first three deliveries in what looked like a slightly panicky start by Salter. Runs were coming in a ridiculous rush, as if Glamorgan were aiming for a declaration. Twenty-four runs from the first four overs of play. The deficit down to 27 with a Ryan Higgins No Ball from the first delivery of the fifth over.

Zafar to the aggressive Salter. Graeme van Buuren came over to him and had a word: Zafar floated it up, Salter missed and was given LBW: 84-7, 26 behind. Still the runs came in a rush as the eighth wicket partnership maintained the run-a-ball progress. Smith aimed a massive, reverse sweep at Zafar and was bowled: 94-8, 16 behind and Zafar on 5-25. It was madcap, frenetic stuff and Zafar was closing in on a career best.

Ryan Higgins swung a ball into Douthwaite and castled him, leaving Glamorgan 102-9, 8 behind, with only Hogan to come. It was also his fiftieth wicket of the season. What a signing Higgins has been. And what a way to get to fifty wickets, the batsman thinking that he had everything covered and still Ryan Higgins got the ball through him.

The last two batsmen conferred, presumably agreeing which of the two would swing like hell. Hogan came down the pitch to Zafar and just about cleared Graeme van Buuren as the ball dropped and plugged. Back came David Payne and Hogan lofted him more successfully, bringing the scores level. Van der Gugten edged Zafar just short of Ollie Price and then launched him far over Long On for six. The batting seemed to be by numbers: block, block, block, SMASH! Block, block, block, SMASH! Against canny bowlers who were persistent and a very fine spinner, it was collective suicide. Zafar should have picked up van de Gugten when the batsmen did not quite get hold of a wahoo over Long On, but Ryan Higgins carried the ball over the boundary in taking the catch. Four balls later, van der Gugten tried again, this time Ryan Higgins pushed the ball back into play and Graeme van Buuren took a magnificent relay catch. 124ao, 15 to win and 6-43 for Zafar.

It took Miles Hammond and Chris Dent just nine balls to knock off the runs. Salter took the New Ball and was lofted back over his head, first ball, by Miles Hammond. Nine off that over of spin. Carlson was given the New Ball at the Taff River End, bowling occasional off-spin. A short ball was hammered through Mid-Wicket to bring the scores level and a cut for four – only given as one run because the batsmen had crossed before it passed the boundary – from Chris Dent finished it off. Twenty-two points for the Shire.

With Essex looking unlikely to be able to force victory against Surrey on the last day, they will go into the last round of matches needing seven points against Northamptonshire to guarantee them winning Division 2. An Essex defeat combined with a big Gloucestershire win against Durham could though see the Shire pip them. 

County Championship Round 12 Essex v Gloucestershire

 

 

County Championship Round 12

Essex v Gloucestershire

 

Preview:

Against Northamptonshire, once again, Gloucestershire took a beating for seven sessions before starting a fightback in the eighth and surging to victory in the last. It was the “Gloucestershire Edge of the Seat Brigade”, as Brian Brain called them back in the early ‘80s.

Of the squad picked for the Northamptonshire game, Jack Taylor, Ian Cockbain and Matt Taylor drop out and David Payne and Ollie Price return. Thus the final XI is likely to be the same save for the Taylor/Payne swap, although the option is there to pick three spinners (Zafar, van Buuren and Ollie Price) if the pitch is tailored to the needs of Simon Harmer, in which case presumably it would be Jared Warner who would make way for Ollie Price.

This is the top of the table clash between the two sides that won in the first round. A win for either team would put it in prime position to win Division 2 and some significant prizemoney with just two games left to play.

Day 1:

There was an experiment with 2-day Championship matches after the First World War: this game bears all the marks of a modern attempt to bring 2-day cricket back.

Essex won the Toss in a match-up that has produced a result in the last five meetings, with each side winning one of the two games in 2015 and in 2016, the last time that the sides met. And, surprise, although Gloucestershire elected to play three spinners, with Jared Warner dropping out, Essex inserted on winning the Toss. With bright sun, but also a pitch that looked pretty green, the chances were that the first hour would be interesting until the sun burnt off some of the moisture.

With a 1030 start, losing an early wicket or two is always a risk and Porter took one in the fifth over, pinning Miles Hammond LBW for 5: 13-1. Worse was to follow in Porter’s next over as Ben Charlesworth fell in identical fashion: 20-2 and the Shire in trouble. In came Chris Dent and counter-attacked with fours from his first two balls. Next over, Sam Cook got into the act and first had James Bracey caught behind for 3, then he bowled Tom Lace first ball. Three wickets had fallen in just 7 balls. Graeme van Buuren kept out the hat-trick ball, but this was a nightmare start. When Chris Dent edged Porter to 2^nd Slip, 20-1 had become 28-5. Graeme van Buuren then left a ball on 5^th or 6^th stump line from Cook, expansively, only to see it jag back in a long way and bowl him neck and crop middle and off: 32-6. Welcome to a 1030 September start against an excellent seam bowling unit!!

28 of the first 40 runs had come in boundaries as Ryan Higgins opened his account with a straight drive past the bowler and then ran out to pull the next ball through Mid-Wicket for another. As counterattacks went, it was as brief as they come as Ollie Price then edged Porter to 3^rd Slip for 3 to make the score 47-7 and signal that the end was nigh. However, the ball did start to soften and, as the sun did its work, conditions started to ease slightly. Once again, though, Zafar was batting in a massive crisis, but gave sensible support to Ryan Higgins for a time. Essex obviously expected the pitch to turn because Harmer was on as early as the 25^th over, bowling with a Slip, a Short Leg and a Short Forward Square Leg and it was he who ended the growing partnership as Zafar offered a huge slog-sweep that was top-edged to Square Leg. 74-8. It was not a great way to get out on the first morning of a game. Then Ryan Higgins turned one from outside off to Short Forward Square leg, where Pepper made a brilliant, flying, reaction catch: that was 76-9 and the batsmen were reading Harmer no better than they could read Linear B. In came last man, David Payne, who somehow survived four balls before being bowled by his fifth. 76ao. Carnage. Harmer finished with the remarkable figures of 3-1-2-3 and was already turning the ball.

And so to an only slightly delayed (by 10 minutes) Lunch. It might be slim consolation, but Somerset, Glamorgan and, to a lesser extent, Hampshire, we also in pretty dire straits at Lunch of Day 1.

Essex came out to bat and it took just seventeen balls for David Payne to remove Browne with an edge to James Bracey: 10-1. Batting was turning into a short term occupation. Even a knighthood did not make it a more long-term proposition: Ryan Higgins pinned Sir Alastair Cook and it was 22-2. With scoring at a crawl, Essex were barely making inroads into the Gloucestershire total. When Tom Price had Westley LBW the score had inched to 28-3 after 17 overs and the match, remarkably, was evening-up. Back came David Payne for a second spell and induced an edge from Pepper to the ‘keeper: 32-4 and Gloucestershire getting back into the game. On came Zafar for the 25^th over with two slips and a Short Forward Square Leg and one wondered if he would get the sharp turn that Harmer had managed. While he was imposing respect and went for just three runs from his first five overs, Walter took three fours off a Ryan Higgins over as the deficit narrowed. With runs flowing from Ryan Higgins, on came Ollie Price.

71-4 at Tea. The partnership 39. And it needed to be broken quickly if Gloucestershire were not to be batted out of the match. Zafar and Ollie Price had conceded just 6 runs between them in eight overs so far.

However, Zafar’s first ball after Tea was cut hard to the boundary and Essex were just one run behind. Rymell’s satisfaction with the stroke did not last long: two balls later Zafar gave one some air on Leg Stump and Miles Hammond took the edge at First Slip… it was that sort of pitch – 75-5. Wheater came in and his response was to paddle-sweep for four to take Essex into the lead. Tom Price came back at the other end and was gloriously Cover Driven for another four: three boundaries and a wicket in seven deliveries. The batsmen were clearly going to take any runs on offer. Zafar was causing problems and Walter turned him of the full face of the bat to Tom Lace at Short Forward Square could not quite scoop up a very low chance. Then Zafar had a very loud shout for LBW that was turned down. It was to prove a very expensive miss. The partnership grew and started to prosper and, for the first time in the day, bat was dominating ball.

By the Close the partnership had reached 75, with Walter 71* and Wheater 30* and the lead 74. It was not evident where another wicket might come from. Gloucestershire are facing a big deficit in a low-scoring match.

Day 2:

Gloucestershire needed a fast start and got one. After an initial Zafar maiden, it took Tom Price just 3 balls to make the breakthrough as Wheater edged and gave a catch to brother Ollie, departing for 34 and leaving the hope that the lead might yet be contained. Such hopes vanished though in a hail of boundaries, mostly by Harmer, who hit three from a single Zafar over. The hundred lead came up in the 74^th over as Harmer scored at better than a run-a-ball. Walter, who had been grinding along through most of the Essex innings accelerated through the 70s and 80s as the score rattled along before the New Ball. Up came the 200 in the 78^th over with yet another boundary from Harmer. Ryan Higgins took the New Ball along with David Payne and, finally, with the partnership between Walter and Harmer at 71, Walter edged to Tom Lace at 3^rd Slip, who juggled and caught it at the second attempt. Walter had fallen for 96, an innings that had turned the knife in the Gloucestershire jugular and had deserved to get a century. One wicket quickly became two as Ryan Higgins induced an edge from Harmer and Tom Lace took another catch at 3^rd Slip, this time a very low one that Lace held very well. The batsman asked if it was clean, Tom Lace said that he thought that it was and, showing good sportsmanship, Harmer walked. Still the Essex score mounted. Snater laced into Payne and lofted him way back over Long On for six, which brought back Zafar into the attack after an animated discussion with Chris Dent. It took him just two balls to remove Snater, who took a wild slash and almost cleared Miles Hammond at 1^st Slip, but Hammond took a really reaction good catch, high over his head.

At that point the score was 244-9 and the lead 168. If Gloucestershire thought that their travails were over, they were wrong. Sam Cook and Porter produced a merry partnership of 32 for the last wicket. Up came the 250 and the second batting point in the 99^th over as the last pair took the attack to the bowlers. The final indignity was when Porter launched Zafar into the crowd over wide Long On to cheers from the public who, like all crowds, love to see the last pair swinging away successfully. Next ball he tried again and launched the ball high towards Cover where David Payne took the catch. 276ao.

The net result was a 200 run lead for Essex. With eight sessions to go, Gloucestershire faced batting for two days to save the match.

The innings started with mercifully few alarms and very few false shots. Such was the lack of excitement that the commentators were able to pay tribute to Sir Robert and how he would have livened-up the commentary. On came Harmer and immediately got big turn while, at the same time, the ball sometimes kept low. Still, it was not until the last ball of the thirteenth over that Snater got the breakthrough, with a straight ball that Miles Hammond just seem to miss: Hammond LBW 17, 35-1. Up came the 50 in the 19^th over, albeit with an involuntary edge wide of the Slips and, like England at the same stage, Gloucestershire were looking fairly solid. 73-1, from 29 overs at Tea, Charlesworth 36*, Bracey 20*.

A cut past Slip by Charlesworth gave him a boundary off Harmer and took Gloucestershire past their first innings total and Charlesworth onto 40*. The pitch was playing better and better although when Harmer beat the bat it was actually because the ball did too much, although it was noticeable that, as the ball got softer, he became steadily easier to play. As the score closed in on 100, the calls for a change of ball started… as it happened, successfully. By coincidence, or otherwise, a wicket fell straight afterwards as Harmer turned a ball slightly past Charlesworth’s push forward and hit the pad right in front: 93-2, Charlesworth 49.

It is fair to say that before Charlesworth fell the batsmen were in charge and you could see Gloucestershire batting through the third day and setting a target. Once he fell, the rot set in and, sad to say, some of the wounds were self-inflicted.

A run-out from what proved to be the last ball of the day was an unnecessary piece of hari-kiri. As was a double nightwatchman policy. David Gower tried it at Lord’s in 1985, with disastrous results. Chris Dent tried tried it here. Worse still was that both nightwatchmen – the Price brothers – fell (in 1985, John Emburey at least survived overnight). The score was 123-2. James Bracey was batting nicely, while Chris Dent was bedding in. Essex had brought on Westley to bowl in a sign that that that they thought that it would be a long haul. Bracey clipped him to leg to bring up a fine 50 (118 balls, 7x4). It was the 54^th over. Just seven overs remained in the day. From nothing, James Bracey edged Sam Cook and was taken by Harmer at 2^nd Slip without adding to his score. Harmer to Tom Price, with five men round the bat. A loud appeal for a bat-pad catch was turned down. Next ball, almost identical, save that, this time, there was an edge and Browne took it at Leg Slip. 124-4 and the Shire’s good position had melted away. Out came Ollie Price. Oh dear! Last over of the day, Sam Cook bowling. Chris Dent facing. He took a single off the first ball. Ollie Price saw off the next two without problems and took a new guard for the fourth, which he clipped nicely to Deep Square Leg. The captain called for a second and Ollie Price was just short when the bullet throw came in. The Essex delight was unbounded. 123-2 had become 132-5 and the match now looks set to finish possibly as early as tomorrow morning.

Gloucestershire will start the third day 68 behind and now with no other aim than to avoid the innings defeat.

Day 3:

Blue skies, bright sun: perfect for batting. When, six overs before the Close, the opposition bowlers are contemplating a long, hard day on the ‘morrow and the opposition batsmen, a chase of some sort on the last day, you hardly expected the game to end well before Lunch on the 3^rd day and with an innings defeat. Officially, the thinking was that a lead of 130 might be enough even to win the match, with Zafar potentially spinning the Shire to the win.

The double nightwatchman decision did not look any better for a night’s sleep and, the best that can be said for it is that the two nightwatchmen, by scoring a single run each, outdid the two batsmen that they were meant to be protecting. That the match ended with another runout, just as the innings defeat was about to be avoided, also speaks volumes. However, at least Ryan Higgins was trying to protect the #11 by taking a quick second run. And that the action happened in silence because the commentary stream had failed… again… only added to the feeling of a slightly botched job all round.

Really, the match had been decided in a catastrophic few overs the previous night. When three wickets fell in 21 balls at the start of play, it looked as if the game might be over inside half an hour. Sam Cook finished his over and Harmer then bowled a quiet over, even if there was a suspicion that the umpires should have stepped-in to enforce COVID social distancing rules as he placed his field: Chris Dent has rarely been so popular, with Essex fielders crowding around him. Three balls of Sam Cook’s first, full over were enough to remove Tom Lace, who fished and edged to 2^nd Slip for a duck: 134-6 and any illusions of setting any kind of lead were disappearing. In came Graeme van Buuren, one of the batsmen that you could imagine, with Chris Dent, in batting for a full day. Chris Dent played a maiden from Harmer. Next ball was a nip-backer from Sam Cook and Graeme van Buuren also departed for a duck. Chris Dent then left the first ball of Harmer’s next over, the ball turned away slightly and took middle and off: 134-8. Six wickets had fallen for eleven runs.

So far Zafar Gohar has played three innings for Gloucestershire, all in collapses and in crises and has batted well each time, although his highest score so far is only 24. Again, he provided solid support for a while, this time in partnership with Ryan Higgins. The two added 54 in 22 overs, adding some respectability to the scorecard. The first sign of aggression was when Zafar came down the wicket to Harmer and lofted him for four to make the score 154-8. Ryan Higgins took his cue from that and cut Snater powerfully for four. Mostly, though, it was slow accumulation and sensible play, Zafar using his feet well to Harmer to disrupt his rhythm. The New Ball was taken and the two continued there serene way, which made what had preceded this partnership even more unfortunate. Harmer came back quickly and Ryan Higgins hit a Cover Drive for two off a very wide delivery, which brought up the 50 partnership. The deficit was now just 15 and, astonishingly, just six overs into the New Ball, Essex were starting to go on the defensive and removing most of the close fielders. Finally, Harmer bowled one outside off that turned too much for Zafar and he could only edge it to Slip, out for 24: 188-9 and the end of a very fine partnership of 54. With only the last man for company, Ryan Higgins unleashed a massive slog-sweep into the far distance, bringing the arrears down to just 5. Could Gloucestershire avoid the innings defeat? Payne edged the ball just over Leg Slip who dived for it and just failed to bring off a tremendous catch. No matter, next ball, with the change of over, Ryan Higgins turned to Square Leg and set off back for two. Snater was fast running in and throwing and surprised him with a direct hit.

Gloucestershire 197ao. The margin, an innings and three runs. Gloucestershire, thoroughly outplayed in the end, had shown flashes of really fine play, but had never quite sustained them for long enough.

County Championship Round 11 Gloucestershire v Northamptonshire

 

 

 

Preview:

This strange, fractured season of near-misses for the Shire, resumes. A season of both over and under-performance. No side managed more wins than Gloucestershire, but 21 bowling bonus points out of a possible 30 was the worst tally in the Championship and only Derbyshire earned fewer than Gloucestershire’s 14 batting bonus points out of a possible 50. Even Middlesex, who lost 7 of 10 matches, managed 15 batting and 30 bowling points. And thereby hangs a tale of two sides. Middlesex were often in a dominant position after two days, bossing games due to their strong hand of bowlers, but time and again fell apart in the third innings, letting slip the advantage. Gloucestershire showed an astonishing ability to receive a cauliflower ear for two or three days and then, suddenly, come good when it counted, winning matches or drawing them in extremis. Had Gloucestershire summed the Middlesex performance in the first and second innings of each match, to their own third and fourth innings performances they would, in all probability, have topped their Group.

The consequence of the first innings struggles is a battle in Division 2 for seventh to twelfth place in the 2021 County Championship. The Shire carry forward 12 points for a win and a defeat against Surrey, starting Division 2 in fourth place, seven behind Essex and four behind Northamptonshire.

Dan Worrall and Glenn Phillips have left. David Payne and Josh Shaw are injured. Dom Goodman is unfit to play, so it will be a much-changed XI from the Hampshire game. In to the squad come Zafar Gohar, a Pakistani Slow Left-Armer, who played an ODI v England in 2015 (taking 2-52 in his 10 overs) and the New Year Test v New Zealand (0-159 in a massive innings defeat), Graeme van Buuren (the second overseas player), Ben Charlesworth (now fit again) and Jared Warner, who looks almost certain to debut.

It is likely that Gloucestershire will play two spinners, with the main questions in the squad of 14 being how many seamers (three or four) play and who opens the batting, given that Miles Hammond has been so spectacularly successful as an emergency opener, but Charlesworth is the regular opener. Tom Lace’s position looks under threat given the excellent form of Jack Taylor in the One Day Cup and Ian Cockbain’s decent run of form since his recall to the Championship side: Cockbain, Lace and Taylor (J) may be battling for one batting spot, unless the risky decision is made to go with just three seamers and increase the load on both Ryan Higgins and Graeme van Buuren, which would only happen if the pitch looks likely to be one on which the spinners will do most of the work.

Day 1:

Chris Dent won the Toss and, unsurprisingly, inserted on a cool, grey morning with a pitch that had plenty of green around the middle. Tom Lace won the batting place that was in doubt: an investment for the 2022 season. With Higgins, Taylor, Price and Warner to bowl seam and Zafar and van Buuren as spinners this looks like the best balanced attack of the season. The XI on the Gloucestershire web page suggested that Dent and Charlesworth would open, with Hammond at #7, while CricInfo had Hammond and Charlesworth opening and Dent batting at #4, either of which would be surprising, although one could see the argument for getting Chris Dent away from the New Ball and letting Miles Hammond continue as opener.

Ryan Higgins opened the bowling and shared the New Ball with Matt Taylor. After six overs it was 23-0 as Northants got a fast start. One edge off Ryan Higgins dropped agonisingly short of 2^nd Slip, another delivery, a couple of balls later beat the bat all ends up. Unfortunately, Taylor, at the Pavillion End, was looser and went for 19 from his first four overs. Meanwhile, Vasconcelos and Gay batted confidently and looked determined to dominate the bowling, undoubtedly thinking of the less experienced change bowling to come. When Tom Price came on to replace Matt Taylor, Vasconcelos flashed at the last ball of his opening over, but the edge flew wide of the Slips and ran for four. At 41-0 from 12 overs the batsmen were well on top and real chances were in short supply. Ryan Higgins finished his spell with his usual, economical 8-2-19-0, but had been unable to force the breakthrough, although Miles Hammond’s drop had robbed him of a wicket. Higgins was relieved by Jared Warner’s tall, blond frame. The change brought a sudden halt to the scoring: there were just two scoring shots from the first five overs of change bowling, one of them that uncontrolled edge. The breakthrough almost came in bizarre fashion in Tom Price’s third over, as the bowler half-stopped a drive from Gay that rebounded straight to Mid-On; Gay was half way down the pitch, but the throw was a poor one and Gay scrambled back. Up came the 50 in the 19^th over and still no breakthrough.

Finally, as the batsmen started to accelerate again, Vasconcelos drove hard at a Tom Price delivery outside off, edging low to Miles Hammond, who was standing very close at Second Slip. Hammond had earlier dropped Gay, but made no mistake this time and, at 67-1 in the 22^nd over, finally the bowlers had some reward. With Lunch approaching, Tom Price got a second as Proctor top-edged a pull into orbit. As the ball fell back vertically towards the stumps both the bowler and James Bracey went for it and, for a horrible moment it looked as if each was leaving it to the other before Price claimed it finally and took the catch. 73-2 in the 24^th over and the scoreboard looking so much better. Price then had a loud LBW shout first ball against Keogh, while, two balls later, Gay top-edged a pull off Jared Warner and the ball just beat the fielder at Cover who was running back furiously. Suddenly, batting was looking tricky. With the seamers looking threatening and a new batsman, on came Ben Charlesworth as fifth seamer when most people expected Zafar to be given a go: his first ball was driven to the boundary by Keogh, who then got a very nice bouncer that he just fended past the Slips. This encouraged Charlesworth to try another bouncer in the last over before Lunch. This time the batsman was waiting for it and the ball went sailing away for four: you got the feeling that he would do better to pitch the ball up, look for movement and use the bouncer as an occasional surprise weapon.

So, 90-2 at Lunch. Not as bad as it might have been, but not as good as one would have wanted after inserting. In contrast, rivals Essex had Glamorgan 59-6 at Lunch, a sign of what Gloucestershire would be facing later.

So, back came Ryan Higgins after Lunch, with three Slips waiting and almost had success at once as a loud and good-looking appeal to his second ball was refused. The morning pattern was repeated as Ryan Higgins threatened, but Matt Taylor was greeted with consecutive boundaries. His second over, however, was better and, second ball, Gay was pinned in front for 44, even if the batsman was not happy with the decision: 102-3. Keogh was starting to look dangerous, but Matt Taylor bowled him neck and crop and, at 115-4, the scoreboard was looking much healthier. Four wickets had fallen for 38, all from the Pavillion End. It could have been five. Adam Rossington came in and tried very hard to get an edge to the last ball of the over, but survived. The match, though, was tilting back to the Shire.

A partnership started to build once more. Zaib and Rossington were starting to get back on top when Jared Warner got a deserved edge from Zaib and Miles Hammond took another excellent catch: 147-5 and Gloucestershire back on top. Finally, on came Zafar for the 49^th over. Immediately he turned a fabulous delivery past Rossington’s bat: there was no edge, but it showed what the Shire had been missing. Tom Price, though, was kept on for one over too many and went for ten from it, including two No Balls. He was replaced by Ben Charlesworth, who was a bit too loose. Again, a stand started to build. This time, however, it was not nipped in the bud. A boundary by Gouldstone brought up the 50 partnership in the 58^th over, while another off the last ball of the 59^th over brought up the 200. 218-5 at Tea, the stand 71 and Northants definitely feeling the happier of the two sides.

Ryan Higgins and Zafar Gohar opened with 19 consecutive dot balls after Tea before Gouldstone got a ball that was a little overpitched and swept it powerfully for four, spoiling the sequence and releasing briefly the pressure, which returned as the sequence of dot balls resumed: 35 out of 36 deliveries after Tea were scoreless. As the light faded, Matt Taylor took over from Ryan Higgins. Two clips to Fine Leg for singles and then two edged boundaries through the Slips came from his first four balls before the umpires decided that it was too dark to continue.

232-5 at Stumps and the momentum back with Northants. Gloucestershire’s strong position half way through the day had slipped: how often we have said that this season. The New Ball will come in ten overs in the morning. Gloucestershire would dearly love to remove both these batsmen before it is taken but, with Zafar finishing his first day with 11-3-19-0, there will be a temptation to delay it, possibly even trying a few overs of Zafar and van Buuren in harness if the initial thrust from the seamers is unsuccessful.

Day 2:

Dark, damp and drab at the County Ground. Covers on. Umpires inspecting, although without umbrellas, which was promising, as the drizzle was insufficient to stop play, but just enough to stop it starting. However, the ground staff were waiting by the covers, awaiting a decision, which was not long in arriving. Play started after a delay of some twenty minutes. It was the start of another day of ups and downs.

Matt Taylor completed his over with two dot balls and, with Jared Warner, took the game up to the New Ball, while Rossington and Gouldstone continued as they had the previous night, accumulating comfortably and hitting the bad balls for boundaries. Up came the century stand in the 77^th over, followed swiftly by the 250 in the 78^th as the score mounted far faster that Chris Dent would have hoped thanks to the batsmen finding a four-ball in most overs. So, with 34 added in 9.2 overs with no alarms, the New Ball was taken immediately by Ryan Higgins, in harness with Tom Price. Price started by beating Gouldstone’s bat with his first two deliveries; fifth ball was edged low to Miles Hammond, who asked about the catch, although it was ruled not to have carried and then, final ball, Gouldstone drove and missed. As can happen, despite Tom Price causing all sorts of problems it was Ryan Higgins who made the breakthrough, bowling Gouldstone for 43 with a nip-backer: 271-6 in the fifth over of the New Ball. Price, though, got his reward with his next over, removing Rossington for 94 as a lovely delivery sent the Off Bail flying to Short Fine Leg: 275-7 and the tail exposed. 

It could have been even better, as new batsman, Taylor, edged Ryan Higgins, but the ball did not quite reach James Bracey. Then Kerrigan inside edged Tom Price and the ball just missed the Off Stump. As the ball bobbled, Kerrigan kicked desperately at it (missing both it and, fortunately for him, the stumps). Then Ryan Higgins beat Kerrigan all ends up, but the umpire ruled that it was missing leg. Suddenly, batting was looking impossible. Ryan Higgins finally did get him as the next delivery caught the shoulder of the bat and flew to Jared Warner: 290-8 and three wickets had fallen for 19. That became four for 22 swiftly, as Tom Price got Sanderson LBW to claim his best innings figures.  A lofted wahoo to leg by Taylor brought up the 300 and third batting point in the 95^th over as an irritating last wicket partnership started.

Nothing drives bowlers to distraction like a last wicket partnership after a collapse. They have done what they think is the hard work and some #11 bat comes out and wrecks your figures. When Jared Warner replaced Ryan Higgins his over finished with 4 2 4 as he offered some bad balls. On came Matt Taylor and started with . 4 3 1 4. Suddenly, the partnership was 34, with 22 runs from the last 8 balls; the hard work with the New Ball was being undone and Northants were disappearing into the distance.

Finally, Jared Warner used his head. He tried a Yorker, then a good length ball on 4^th stump, then one slightly wider again that the batsmen drove at hard and edged behind, James Bracey taking a good catch diving to his right. 327 all out and Lunch.

The mystery of the Gloucestershire openers was resolved as Miles Hammond accompanied Ben Charlesworth out after the break. The stand, though, was brief and the start, catastrophic. Unfortunately, it was a mere prelude of worse to come. Charlesworth reached for the fourth delivery of the innings and only succeeded in edging a low catch behind. 0-1 and another poor start. However, both Miles Hammond and James Bracey batted sensibly and without alarms for a time so it was all the more galling when James Bracey reached for one outside off and edged to Third Slip: Bracey out for 7, 20-2 and the Shire in the mire… again. In came Chris Dent in at #4 with a big re-building job to do: it did not last long. Miles Hammond edged Sanderson to Third Slip: 21-3, Hammond 10.

Slowly, Chris Dent and Tom Lace stabilised the innings. The Captain took ten, including two boundaries from a Taylor over, bring up the 50 in the 18^th over with a savage hook. Just as it seemed that the crisis was passing, Tom Lace edged Procter and fell for 12: 53-4 and the Follow-On mark of 178 was looking increasingly distant. Gloucestershire’s plight only got worse as Procter bowled Chris Dent for 21: 56-5.

Tea came after 30 overs, at 78-5, van Buuren 17*, Higgins 3*, the floodlights on full and two lightmeter readings already taken.

After two maiden overs, Ryan Higgins tucked the ball off his legs for two to get the score moving again but, with four shadows forming around the players, the chances were that play would not last long. Too long though for Ryan Higgins. He drove at Procter, edged to the ‘keeper and departed for 8: 83-6, 244 behind and Zafar coming to the wicket, carrying a bat bare of any markings and getting an idea of what he was letting himself in for. Yet another light reading was taken, but play continued. Procter was showing himself to be a formidable challenge at the best of times and, in such murky light, even more. After eight overs the shadows from the floodlights were so dark that it was no surprise that the players went off.

At the Close, 90-6, van Buuren 19*, Zafar 3* and the Shire still in the mire.

Day 3:

Realistically, Graeme van Buuren and Zafar Gohar had to add at least 50 to give Gloucestershire a real chance of avoiding the Follow-On. It was a tall order on a pitch where the par score looked to be more like 200-220 than 327 however, for around twenty-five minutes the score mounted slowly. Graeme van Buuren clipped Sanderson to leg for the single to bring up the 100 with the last ball of the 43^rd over. All looked fine for a time until Procter produced another fine delivery that beat Zafar all ends up and pinned him LBW for 7: 101-7 and the Shire sinking. All through this Graeme van Buuren was taking the scoring chances when they came: a lovely clip off his legs sent a leggish delivery from Procter speeding to the Square Leg boundary and took him into the thirties. Even he though was riding his luck, with one inside edge bouncing off the boot and just evading the stumps.

Slowly, as the ball got older and the bowlers tired, Graeme van Buuren and Tom Price started to put a stand together. Tom Price has shown that he is a capable bat in a crisis and Graeme van Buuren was advertising what the Shire have been missing. The reward for the batsmen was to see Simon Kerrigan come on for the 57^th over and an end to the relentless pace. He was immediately swept nicely by GvB for a two and a one to take him to 48*. Kerrigan, who made such an impact in this early career, is not the bowler that he was before his chastening Test debut, but still a capable one and it is good to see him in a First Division outfit.

It was Kerrigan who broke the stand of 45 that was just beginning to threaten the domination of the ball: Tom Price left one expansively and was castled. It was an unfortunate end for a batsman who has shown his mettle batting in a crisis more than once this season. 146-8, van Buuren 49*, 32 needed to save the Follow-On. Graeme van Buuren got the first of them with a lovely Cover Drive to bring up his 50 (121 balls, 6x4). However, with the 150 up, Kerrigan gave him a straight one, Graeme van Buuren missed it and the ball thudded into the pad in front. 153-9, van Buuren out for 56, the Follow-On now just a matter of when, not if. However, at that point there had to be some doubt that Northants would enforce it. There followed an, at times, bizarre passage of play as the batsmen tried to get through to a delayed Lunch, barely playing a shot in anger and, as the clock ticked towards 1340, there was the unusual sight of the umpires taking their time with the change of overs in the hope that 1339 would become 1340 and they could get some food. Probably the batsmen were even more grateful given the knowledge that the 80 overs were up and that if another was bowled, it would be delivered by a pumped-up bowler with a New Ball.

167-9 at Lunch, Matt Taylor 10*, Jared Warner 3*. 11 needed to save the Follow-On and 62 overs left in the day.

So, at that time, it seemed that if the Follow-On were saved and if more overs lost to bad light, the draw would, most certainly, become a real possibility. Given what we had seen, it would be rough justice for Northamptonshire, but, also, the sort of escape that Gloucestershire have specialised in this season. Where the top order had struggled, #10 and #11 batted calmly for over after over. The runs came down slowly with ones and twos until a ball too far down leg gave Jared Warner a chance to play a fine clip for two that saved the Follow-On, the ball being chased down just short of the rope. The Northants tactics were odd: the tail was allowed to bat in relative comfort as if the bowlers were not keen on taking the last wicket too early. There were three Slips, but no one else close, no Short Forward Square Leg for the fend-off, or Silly Point; the pressure was limited with no one under the batsman’s nose to keep him nervous. Finally, with a batting bonus point looming and the match drifting, Procter was finally brought back and, in his first over, induced an edge from Jared Warner that went to Vasconcelos at First Slip. 191ao, 136 behind and now Northamptonshire needed a lot of runs, very quickly to set up the declaration. The last wicket partnership had eaten-up almost 26 overs and added 38 priceless runs.

Despite Northamptonshire needing quick runs, Ryan Higgins and Tom Price opened with three maidens. Only a ball from Higgins that went for 4 byes had moved the scoreboard before Price clean bowled Gay to make it 4-1. Tom Price should have got Procter too to make it 18-2, but Miles Hammond missed a low, but by no means difficult chance at Second Slip. However, seeing the ball almost rolling through to James Bracey a few deliveries later was a reminder how difficult life was for the ‘keeper and Slips. The drop was not especially costly because Ryan Higgins pinned Procter LBW in the next over to make it 21-2. In came Keogh and out he went, almost as quickly, LBW to the impressive Tom Price, making it 26-3, 162 ahead and the shadows cast by the floodlights getting darker. In came a fourth Slip as Chris Dent realised that another wicket in the tricky light could make Northants very nervous.

Tea taken at 34-3 after 13 overs, the lead 170.

Double change after Tea with Matt Taylor and Jared Warner taking over. Although it was not as murky as the previous day, the umpires still cast four dark shadows as they came out. Matt Taylor bowled a delivery at Zaib that cut back in violently and lifted, hitting him in the upper stomach. Two balls later, a disconcerted Zaib slashed at a ball the also lifted a little and sent an edge flying high between 1^st and 2^nd Slip to bring up the 50 with a lucky boundary. As 2^nd and 3^rd Slip were standing very close because edges has not been carrying, it was a hard chance to take. Gloucestershire could not afford to let a stand build and Vasconcelos and Zaib had put on 31 when Matt Taylor bowled the former, who took an age to drag himself off, perhaps realising that his wicket had ended hopes of an aggressive declaration.

At this point it was 57-4 in the 20^th over, the lead 193 and Northants now on the defensive. In the next over, Jared Warner found the edge of Zaib’s bat and James Bracey took an excellent, low catch: 61-5, the lead 197. You could almost hear Chris Dent exhorting “get Rossington and we’re in with a real chance of winning”.

With Northants wobbling, back came Ryan Higgins and Tom Price and out came the lightmeter. Three boundaries briefly relieved some pressure, but the first ball of Higgins’ second over clean bowled Gouldstone: 85-6, the lead 221 and the prospect of a chase growing. Unlike in the first innings, every time a stand started to grow it was nipped in the bud. The key wicket was that of Rossington and Ryan Higgins did for him too, bowling him to leave the score 92-7. Incredibly, Northants were facing possible defeat.

Perhaps in an act of mercy, the umpires took the players off for bad light, ending play for the day, but the Gloucestershire players were, understandably, reluctant to go.

Could the Shire yet turn this around? With good weather forecast for tomorrow and a full day’s play expected, it could happen if those last three wickets go down quickly. That said, anything over 250 will take some chasing, but you would fancy the Shire to go for anything up to 280. The optimists, though, will remind us that we were 146 behind Leicestershire on first innings and won, although that was after a generous declaration, kamikaze batting and against a threadbare attack.

Day 4:

So, Gloucestershire won at a canter. Another amazing comeback win. However, the team took the scenic route: for a large part of the day, it looked very uncertain with scoring slow. However, the margin – 6 wickets with more than 4 overs to spare – brooked no arguments.

A cloudy morning but with sun promised in the afternoon. Maximum of 96 overs. A difficult balance for Chris Dent: he needed to attack for quick wickets, but could not afford to concede runs. Ryan Higgins opening the attack with three Slips, partnered by Tom Price. Ryan Higgins took just seven (legitimate) balls to take a wicket as his first delivery of his second over jagged back in, hit the back pad and got the lifted finger from the umpire: 97-8 and the start that the Shire needed. Up came the 100 and a morale-boosting landmark for Northants in the fourth over of the day, but Tom Price immediately induced a wild edge from Sanderson that James Bracey pocketed gratefully: 100-9 and the lead 236. In came Higgins again and Kerrigan edged his first delivery just short of Tom Lace at Gulley. Kerrigan replied with a lofted On-drive that flew over Chris Dent for a two-bounce four. With the lead at 240 you felt that every run would make the chase harder. Kerrigan had obviously decided to enjoy himself and repeated the dose three balls later. With runs at a premium, the last wicket stand started to become a major nuisance, helped by some misdirected bowling. The lead passed 250 and, with every run, the chase was getting harder. A top-edged hook to a leg-side bouncer from Tom Price flew for 6 and the lead reached 264.

Finally, Ryan Higgins, who had been a little expensive, bowled an Off Stump Yorker, wrecked Kerrigan’s stumps and that was that. 129ao, 266 the target. 85 overs left. The discipline of the bowlers had let them down a bit against the last pair and those extra runs might be crucial. So, another last day chase, far more than the Leicestershire game that was being remembered, this reminded one of the game against Surrey in which Gloucestershire suddenly surged through on the third afternoon and chased brilliantly on the last day.

Out came Ben Charlesworth and Miles Hammond. Charlesworth got off his pair with a single first ball and the old hands knew that this could go one of two ways: either 20-5 and chase over, or the target hunted-down with something to spare – a draw looked unlikely. A lovely drive for four from Ben Charlesworth was a nice settler for the nerves. Then, a ball from White bounced a little higher than Miles Hammond expected and a hard edge flew over the Slips for four, bringing the target under 250; it was never realistically a chance with the Slips standing up so close, but still got the heart racing.  Miles Hammond had another lucky escape when a Chinese Cut just missed leg stump and went for two, but they all count.

On came Procter. Two drives and misses from Ben Charlesworth were followed by a disastrous, expansive leave that removed Off Stump: 23-1, Charlesworth, 7 and Procter had started with a wicket maiden. With the wicket, the whole tenor of the match changed once more. Northamptonshire were energised and, suddenly, batting looked impossible again. From the time that Procter came into the attack, there were five consecutive maidens, including Charlesworth’s wicket before, after 32 scoreless deliveries, a Miles Hammond cut was slashed for four. Such impudence could not go unpunished and James Bracey paid the price, folding like a pack of cards as Procter crashed the ball into his box.

So, at Lunch, 33-1, Hammond 24*, Bracey 2*. 233 needed and 66 overs to get them. Both sides could feel satisfied with their efforts but, how expensive might that last wicket stand prove to be?

After Lunch it was more of the same. The batsmen biding their time as the bowlers beat edges, had moral victories but, crucially, failed to take wickets and were burning up their energy. When a bad ball came, Miles Hammond despatched it through the Covers with aplomb for a boundary. Unfortunately, James Bracey was riding his luck, never looking comfortable and it finally run out when he edged Taylor through to the ‘keeper for 4: 40-2. Miles Hammond was still there and it was on him that victory hopes depended, although the scoring was so slow that, at that point, the draw or defeat looked most likely. Up came the 50 in the 28^th over with a nice Cover Drive by the captain and the first signs of aggression from the batsmen started to appear as Chris Dent took nine, including two fine boundaries through Point from a White over. This brought back Sanderson for a second spell in a clear sign that Northants were beginning to worry a little that the batsmen were starting to score more freely: he kept it tight, but the batsmen responded by looking for quick singles to keep on some pressure. On came Kerrigan, who has probably had a kind word to James Bracey on the subject of chastening England debuts, with a Slip and a Short Forward Square Leg.

A single to Miles Hammond brought the target under 200 with 51 overs remaining. The cricket was attritional and you wondered how long Kerrigan would be allowed to bowl maidens before the batsmen decided that they had to go after him. 79-2 from 40 overs. Still on, but getting harder for both sides. Back came Procter and Miles Hammond brought out a forearm smash down the ground for four to take him to 50 (137 balls, 6x4): it was not fluent, but it was what his side needed. A cheeky ramp for a single by Chris Dent and a clubbed boundary by Miles Hammond were the first signs that the batsmen were looking to take on Kerrigan. The pitch was one that rewarded batsmen who battled through and there was something of the big Northants stand from the first day in the growing partnership between Hammond and Dent, which reached 50 with a single off Procter. On came Keogh to bowl some more occasional spin – a signal that the batsmen were in control – and a pushed single brought up the 100: 100-2 from 47 overs. Kerrigan dropped one short and Chris Dent came out to meet it and hammered it back over his head for 4, a cheeky dab for a single and then Miles Hammond nailed the reverse sweep for another boundary: ten from 4 balls, before Dent had a nibble at a wide one and edged it to the ‘keeper. 111-3, 155 needed and Dent out for 26, valuable runs.

In came Tom Lace, needing runs and they started to flow from Kerrigan’s bowling, although Keogh continued to be treated with exaggerated respect. 123-3 at Tea, Hammond 79*, Lace 4*, 143 needed from 32 overs. Very much on for both sides.

Out came the players and Tom Lace took eight from the first over, delivered by Kerrigan, including a delicious drive for 4. That was the end of Kerrigan’s spell. A quick single to Miles Hammond off Procter brought Gloucestershire to 133-3 and half way at the end of the 56^th over. Six off a Sanderson over. Six off the next from Procter: slowly the runs wanted were coming down. 121 wanted, 27 overs left. A boundary from Tom Lace brought the runs required under 100, with Hammond 94* and Lace 29*. Sadly, Miles Hammond, who has had a wonderful season, could not see it through to the finish: Taylor bowled him comprehensively for 94, with 98 needed, but it was the last success that Northants had. That brought in Graeme van Buuren who set about the bowling with gusto. Runs came more and more rapidly and then in a flood. Taylor overpitched outside off and van Buuren hammered it through the Covers. Next ball, a horrible misfield at Mid-Off allowed an all-run four. A single and a guide through Third Man for Tom Lace: 13 off the over and the wheels were coming off the Northants waggon. A boundary first ball of the next over and it was 17 scored from just 6 deliveries. A drive to Deep Mid-Wicket for a single brought up the 200 at the end of the 69^th over and the target was down to 66. Kerrigan gave Graeme van Buuren one in his hitting zone and the pull flew over Deep Mid-Wicket for six. A single brought the target down to 50 and the Shire were cruising.

A single to Mid-Wicket took Tom Lace to an excellent 50 and the score to 224-4. Then, a superb On-Drive added another boundary and brought the target down to 38. Then Graeme van Buuren added a lofted On-Drive for 4: nine off the over, 33 needed. The floodgates had opened: 4, 4, 6 from the last three balls of next over, delivered by Kerrigan, took van Buuren up to his own, rapid-fire 50: just 18 wanted and 9 overs to get them. With 4 needed, Northants had the option of the New Ball but decided not to take it. A horrible delivery down leg from Keogh was helped on its way by Tom Lace, who moved to 67* and took the Shire to a wonderful win, with van Buuren 53* from just 50 balls having given the final push.

Nineteen points and, once again, a win without a batting point. Next up: Essex, the other winners from Division 2 in this round. Gloucestershire are second in Division 2, on 31 points, ten behind Essex, who have 41.