Cricket Glo’sters eyeing victory chance against Middlesex
GLOUCESTERSHIRE raised hopes of gaining a first County Championship victory of the season on the third day of the Division Two game against Middlesex at the Seat Unique Stadium.
Shortly before we went to press, Middlesex were 126-3 in their second innings, just seven runs ahead of Gloucestershire overall.
After a delayed start, Gloucestershire began the third’s day play on 271-6, a first-innings lead of 68 thanks in large to 81 from Miles Hammond and 75 from Graeme van Buuren.
Gloucestershire advanced to 322 all out, with 43 from Ben Charlesworth the main contribution.
Henry Brookes accounted for Charlesworth off the first ball of the first ball of the 98th over, and then removed Marchant de Lange and Dom Goodman off the fourth and last deliveries of the over to wrap up the innings.
Gloucestershire struck twice inside the opening seven overs of Middlesex’s second innings, to leave the visitors in trouble on 9-2.
First, Goodman dismissed Nathan Fernandes for five. Then, Ajeet Singh Dale had Mark Stoneman caught behind by James Bracey for a duck.
It became 79-3 in the 24th over when former Derbyshire star Leus du Plooy fell to Goodman for 30.
However, Max Holden, with a half-century, and former Gloucestershire all-rounder Ran Higgins were putting together a useful fourth-wicket partnership as the Bristol Post went to press.
In the rain-affected Division One game at Kidderminster, Worcestershire were building a useful firstinings lead against Somerset.
Replying to Somerset’s 309-9 declared, Worcestershire had moved from an overnight 107-1 on to 358-7 as we went to press.
Former
Gloucestershire wicketkeeper Gareth Roderick and Jake Libby were chiefly responsible for Worcestershire taking control of the game.
Roderick made 122 from 220 balls, with 14 fours and a six, before being dismissed by Jake Ball. Earlier, Libby had made 97 from 189 n balls, with 16 fours, before bowled by Shoaib Bashir.