County fold to limp two-day loss

GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S batting folded pitifully for the second time in successive days as they suffered a crushing, two-day Specsavers County Championship Division Two defeat, losing to Warwickshire by an innings and 47 runs at Edgbaston.

They followed their first innings 127 with 103 all out as the home seam-attack, led by Ryan Sidebottom with four for 42, ruthlessly exploited some feckless batting to fully exploit a dominant position earned by the skilful work of opening batsman Will Rhodes.

The former Yorkshire player struck 137 from 233 balls with 16 fours, a superb innings in seamer-friendly conditions, to lift Warwickshire to 277, Craig Miles, left, finishing with five for 69.

In Gloucestershire’s second innings, Miles Hammond cut Sidebottom to gully then they fell from 27-1 to 27-4 a in nine balls as Chris Dent edged Sidebottom to second slip before Keith Barker had James Bracey caught behind and Gareth Roderick played on.

Ryan Higgins edged Sidebottom behind and debutant Ben Charlesworth was caught at second slip.

Benny Howell then had his off-stump flattened by Chris Wright and the end came as Sidebottom bowled Miles, Matt Taylor hoiked Chris Wright to long leg and Drissell edged Rhodes to second slip.

Gloucestershire captain Chris Dent said: “We gave a good bowling unit a lot of wickets with poor shots.”

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