Gloucestershire cash in thanks to Roderick gamble
WORCESTERSHIRE’S assistant coach Matt Mason tried to pick out the positives after his side fell victim to dazzling unbeaten centuries by Jack Taylor and Michael Klinger.
Gloucestershire stormed to a memorable five-wicket win after former New Road campaigner Klinger (102no) and Taylor (107no) powered them to a challenging target of 315 in 70 overs with more than ten overs spare.
It was a well deserved triumph after an absorbing match in which they were richly rewarded for an enterprising approach.
For Worcestershire it was a disappointing outcome although they also played a major role in a great advertisement for Division Two cricket.
Despite suffering their first defeat of the season, Mason felt the side’s make-up of talented youngsters and experienced players was highlighted by fine centuries from Tom KohlerCadmore and Jack Shantry.
Kohler-Cadmore, 21, notched 169 before Shantry, 28, blasted an explosive 106 following Worcestershire’s dramatic slump to 34-5 in their first innings. Their heroic efforts helped lift the hosts to a remarkable 439 with both registering career-best scores.
Gloucestershire also had their own first innings century-maker in Graeme van Buuren (172no) who described his three-figure exploits as meaning “all the world to me”, following an undefeated 134-run partnership with Craig Miles (60).
The South African’s first Championship hundred helped bolster his side to 364-6 before they sportingly opened the match up by declaring 75 behind.
At the end of a weather curtailed third day the game was intriguingly poised with Worcestershire 226 ahead on 151-5.
After a rain delayed start on the final day the interest intensified when the hosts were dismissed for 239 with Craig Miles claiming 5-54.
It left Gloucestershire with a testing target in which Taylor and Klinger produced a match-winning unbeaten stand of 179 in 24 overs despite poor light. Taylor said: “It was fantastic to get over the line, a pretty special feeling. Everyone chipped in so it was a fine team effort.”
Mason, meanwhile, was encouraged by a number of positives, saying: “We’re seeing a growing maturity in our younger players.We’ve spent a lot of time trying to turn them into self thinking cricketers. We don’t want to spoon feed them too much.
“We want them to learn about the game in their own time and in their own way.
“We’ve also got that blend of experience. Daryl Mitchell has played a lot of cricket now as have Jack Shantry and Alexei Kervezee. So there are the experienced players who are around the group who can assist in the development of our youngsters.
“It’s very easy, as a coach, to do too much for your players and we’re trying to go the other way and do what we need to without taking over the reins too much.”
Shantry, in particular, was in sensational form and blasted the second Championship century of his career, the second 50 coming off just 14 balls. Batting at No.10, he put on 69 off 59 deliveries for the last wicket with Charlie Morris, who failed to get off the mark.
Mason said:“It’s always pretty special when Jack gets on a roll with something when it’s with bat or ball.
“The way he went about his business in this match was incredible, particularly his second fifty and the partnership with Charlie was a terrific end to our innings.”