Dawson’s men still looking for spark
Gloucestershire 229 & 88-3 Sussex 435 - Stumps, Day Three
RICHARD Dawson will sit back and reflect on a season of mixed fortunes at Gloucestershire after seeing his side’s infuriating inconsistency all too apparent against Sussex in their final game.
“Some good, some bad,” said the Gloucestershire coach. “But overall, I suppose I am pleased with the endeavour and happy that, once again, we have beaten some good sides. Now, it’s about being consistent and making sure we build on what we have achieved this season.”
It was back in April that Dawson stated categorically that one of this season’s aims was to reach the knockout stages of either the T20 Blast or the One-Day Cup. “I hoped it might be both,” he said.
Unfortunately, in the 50-over format they finished eighth of nine in the southern division. It was an different story in T20 – 10 wins from 13 completed games put them of the southern pile. Sadly, that devastating form deserted them in a quarter-final loss to Durham.
As far as the County Championship was concerned, Dawson feels a degree of frustration that having worked themselves into a position of promise, they threw away the chance of at least challenging for promotion.
But he said: “There have been real positive points throughout the season, David Payne has bowled well, Denty (Chris Dent) has been excellent and young George Hankins helped himself to a maiden first-class hundred.”
Gloucestershire fans saw their team give a characteristically in and out display against Sussex: a batting collapse on day one; some outstanding work from Dent and the lower order; then a mixed bag with the ball.
Sussex shared out the wickets in Gloucstershire’s first knock with Steve Magoffin (3-36) and Jofra Archer (3-39) the statistical pick.
Sussex then built up a 206-run lead on first innings, their 435 being underpinned by wicketkeeper Ben Brown’s diligent unbeaten 118, which was scored at a positive pace.
Chris Nash and Luke Wells had earlier weighed in with 66 and 75 respectively.