Thrilling contest as Worcestershire hunt target to end win wait
ASOLID half-century from Callum Ferguson put Worcestershire in sight of their first Specsavers County Championship win since May on the final afternoon against Gloucestershire at Cheltenham.
The experienced Australian was unbeaten on 51 at tea, with his side 146 for four, needing a further 100 for a victory.
Ferguson went to a hugely valuable fifty just before the interval, off 99 balls, with 5 fours, receiving good support from Riki Wessels (42) and Ben Cox (26 not out).
The visitors hadg had Daryl Mitchell caught behind off the first ball of their second innings, bowled by David Payne.
Wessels played the more aggressive role in the second-wicket stand of 73 before edging a cut shot off left-arm spinner Tom Smith to wicketkeeper James Bracey.
Gloucestershire added 35 to their overnight second innings score of 149 for eight, David Payne and Ethan Bamber
taking their ninth-wicket stand to 40 before Payne drove a catch to short cover off Ed Barnard.
Adam Finch quickly removed last man Matt Taylor, who was unable to bowl in Worcestershire’s second innings because of a side strain.
Payne claimed his 250th first class wicket on day three, which ended with Gloucestershire’ on 149 for eight, a lead of 210.
Payne’s landmark came when he dismissed Dillon Pennington lbw after Worcestershire had begun the day on 232 for six in reply to 354.
They slipped to 246 for nine before a defiant last-wicket stand of 47 between captain Joe Leach and Adam Finch.
That meant Gloucestershire led by 61 on first innings.
Soon they were in trouble at 47 for four before Ryan Higgins steadied things with an aggressive 36.
At the start of the day, Gloucestershire made early inroads as Wayne Parnell edged Ethan Bamber through to wicketkeeper James Bracey and two more quick wickets followed.
Brett D’oliveira added two to his overnight 66 when caught at second slip by Miles Hammond, Bamber again the successful bowler.
Payne sent back Pennington, a sweet moment for the 28-year-old left-arm seamer, but Leach farmed the strike to frustrate Gloucestershire for 22 overs before being bowled by Higgins.
With his third ball of Gloucestershire’s second innings Leach had opposite number Chris Dent caught behind for a duck.
Gareth Roderick, Miles Hammond and James Bracey fell cheaply to the new ball, but Higgins counter-attacked in typical style, with six fours in his 35-ball innings.
Tom Smith continued his excellent Festival with the bat but edged Parnell to Wessels at first slip for 25.
Jack Taylor reined himself in to contribute a responsible 20 off 91 balls before Benny Howell clipped a catch tamely to mid-on to gift leg-spinner D’oliveira a wicket.
On day two, Ross Whiteley and D’oliveira came to Worcestershire’s rescue. After Gloucestershire were all out for 354 the visitors plummeted to 68 for five.
The sixth-wicket pair went on to share a stand of 146 in 43 overs, Whiteley leading the way with 88, while D’oliveira was unbeaten on 66 at the close.
The day began with Gloucestershire adding only 15 to their overnight score as Leach claimed their last three wickets for figures of six for 79.
Smith was last man out for 83, just one short of his career-best score made in the previous Championship match against Leicestershire. .
Worcestershire’s reply had reached 24 when Wessells, on 12, edged Bamber to Howell and Ferguson was taken at second slip by Hammond off Payne.
Barnard fell to Higgins who then had Mitchell caught by Bracey, standing up to the stumps, for 18 to l
They were 68 for five as Howell took another catch at first slip, this time off Payne, to send back Ben Cox for 13.
Higgins starred in Gloucestershire’s first innings with a sparkling 76.
Chris Dent also contributed a halfcentury, while Higgins’ innings took his tally of Championship runs for the season past the 700 mark at an average of 70.8. T
With only the fourth ball of the game, Leach found the edge of Hammond’s bat before Dent and Gareth Roderick took the total to 70 when Roderick, on 40, attempted to drive Dillon Pennington and Callum Ferguson took a sharp chance at gully.
Bracey departed to Leach, as did Dent before Higgins and Smith added 60 in six overs.
Jack Taylor contributed only 10 but Smith found another effective partner in Howell, who helped add 58 before cutting Parnell straight to gully.