Jennings fires a shot across selectors’ bow
DURHAM STAR PUTS HIMSELF IN TEST FRAME
KEATON Jennings gave the England selectors a timely nudge as Durham enjoyed the upper hand against Gloucestershire on the second day of the Specsavers County Championship Division Two match at Bristol.
Although he missed out on a second successive hundred, the left-handed opener top-scored with 87 as Durham, replying to the home side’s first-innings 303, reached the close on 270 for four.
Gloucestershire’s bowlers staged a mini-revival in the final session, but the visitors trail by 33 runs and, with six wickets in hand, are still handily placed to forge a meaningful lead and apply pressure on the third day.
In need of reassurance in the wake of heavy defeat at the hands of Nottinghamshire, Durham’s top-order batting restored lost pride against a Gloucestershire attack that lacked penetration on an essentially true pitch.
Eager to further press his international credentials after registering a hundred on debut for England against India in the fourth Test in Mumbai in December, Jen- nings took centre stage, sharing in a progressive opening stand of 114 in 32.3 overs with Stephen Cook.
South Africa opener Cook appeared supremely secure in raising 50 from 80 balls and a hundred appeared to be his for the taking when he inexplicably lost concentration and, pursuing a delivery outside off stump from Chris Liddle, edged to Cameron Bancroft at first slip.
Demonstrating sound temperament and technique, Jennings carried on regardless, ruthlessly exploiting Greame van Buuren’s slow left-arm spin and punishing anything short or wide from seam bowlers who lacked consistency.
Intent on earning a place in the England squad for the Test series against South Africa, the 24-yearold has improved his defensive game, and it came as a surprise when he succumbed 13 runs short of what would have been his second hundred of the season.
Last year’s top run-scorer in Championship cricket and the Cricket Writers Club’s player of 2016 was undone by a Liddle delivery that left him and was held Lancashire’s Liam Livingstone on his way to an unbeaten 57 yesterday against Somerset by wicketkeeper and former Durto reach stumps without mishap. ham team-mate Phil Mustard via Finally afforded an opportunity the finest of thin edges. He may after a blank first season on the have missed out on three figures, county staff, former Sussex pacebut his early-season form will man Liddle adhered to the tenets surely not go unnoticed at Lord’s. of line and length without luck,
Losing their momentum thereproving the most consistent of after, Durham slipped from the Gloucestershire’s front-line bowlgiddy heightsers.of183foroneto214 for four, Graham Clark and CamDurham’s seamers made good eron Steel falling to Craig Miles in use of the new ball to mop up the quick succession as the home side last three wickets for 38 runs in fought back after tea. 15.2 overs after Gloucestershire
Charged with the task of repairhad resumed their first innings on ing the damage, experienced cam265 for seven. paigners Paul Collingwood (28 not Jack Taylor and David Payne out) and Michael Richardson (25 added 36 for the eighth wicket, but not out) displayed a clear underonce the former edged Chris standing of what was required in Rushworth to second slip three staging an unbroken partnership runs short of a half century, the of 57 for the fifth wicket as innings unraveled rapidly. Gloucestershire’s bowlers sought No sooner had Gloucestershire atonement for their earlier shortbanked a third batting bonus comings by applying belated prespoint, then fellow England bowlsure. ers Mark Wood and Graham
Watchful in the extreme, these Onions took care of business, two safely negotiated 24 overs, removing Payne and last man Lideight of them against the new ball, dle in quick succession.