Yorkshire forfeit and 402 for 6 (Jaques 160, Ballance 121*) beat Gloucestershire 351 for 9 dec (Williamson 111, Bresnan 5-81, Patterson 4-77) and 48 for 0 dec by four wickets
So, we lost the game to Yorkshire on Saturday. By the end it was a bit of a rout, with both Phil Jaques and Gary Ballance having scored hundreds. Some fans may be disappointed that we even set Yorkshire a target, but let's be realistic, they scored 370 in a day to win, which is good going at Bristol, even against an inexperienced attack such as ours. There is no shame in losing to such a strong side as Yorkshire, who featured Adil Rashid coming in at number nine should they have needed him. Yorkshire were also under pressure, having been relegated last season and then failing to win in their opening 3 chanpionship matches.
Phil Jacques is a quality player, with 9 hundreds in 28 matches and a first class average approaching 50. Let's not forget he also scored 3 hundreds in his 11 tests for Australia. I'm not sure that facing an attack comprising Will Gidman, Ian Saxelby, debutant Graeme McCarter and Ed Young, plus various part timers, was the greatest challenge he's ever faced. As Alex Winter mentions in his Cricinfo report, taking wickets became particularly difficult on a pitch which made taking wickets with the old ball 'exceptionally difficult'. Gary Ballance's superb unbeaten hundred should not be overlooked either. Yorkshire needed someone else to contribute alongside Jaques and the Zimbabwean delivered in fine style, ending 121* with consecutive sixes off Ed Young.
Still, a lot to be positive about from a Glos perspective. Kane Williamson struck a superb hundred (his third in successive matches, including his match-saving century for New Zealand against South Africa) and looks in sublime touch already. Chris Dent again scored important first innings runs and Graeme McCarter performed very well for a 19 year old on championship debut. Even Hamish Marshall almost got a 50!
As Alex Gidman said after the game, things could be a lot worse for such a young and inexperienced side. At least we showed some spirit to set up a run chase and bowled with a lot of heart in trying to defend the target. No championship game for the 'Shire this week, but Northamptonshire away next week should be a tough challenge.
Video highlights from Day 4 below:
A pair of long-suffering Gloucestershire County Cricket club fans attempt to put the world (and the Glos administration) to rights. Themes include: Is one England ODI a year a good model for financial success and ground redevelopments, whether a batting average of 35 in Division 2 of the County Championship is acceptable and why Glos continue to be rubbish.
Hi Will and Andy
ReplyDeleteLoved reading your articles. We would love it if you would also post your articles to www.fanalistas.co.uk, a new site for fan journalists/bloggers like you. We can automatically import your articles to your fanalistas profile and then link back to your blog giving your work exposure to our growing online community. I have no doubt that your cricket coverage would attract a lot of readers with us.
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I look forward hearing from you. Keep up the great work!
James
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