Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Advantage Glo’sters as trio make half-centuries
GLOUCESTERSHIRE skipper Chris Dent led from the front as the hosts produced a solid response to Surrey’s 220 – but it was far from a solo showing as they reached 311 for eight on day two.
Dent’s bright 78 was backed-up by 54 from James Bracey and Tom Lace’s 65, but none of them could turn their positions into a potentially match-defining innings despite helping to give the home side a good lead and three batting points.
After Surrey were polished off in three balls of day two, Dent and Bracey immediately put the home side on the front foot with a rattling opening stand of 139 in 28 overs.
Dent survived a chance to second slip on 28, where Jamie Overton could not claim the catch when leaping at full stretch over his head, and he went on to pull Overton for six over midwicket to raise 50 in just 55 balls. Another maximum was hoisted down the ground from Amar Virdi’s offspin, but just after lunch he could not get out of the way in time when trying to leave Reece Topley and he edged into his stumps.
It was a bonus for Surrey, who were much relieved to break the opening partnership on the stroke of lunch when Virdi skidded one into Bracey playing back. The wicketkeeper had impressed, punishing three wide deliveries from Gus
Atkinson for four before skipping down to lift Virdi for another boundary. A calm single in front of cover brought him 50 in 81 balls.
The third half-centurion was Lace, in his first innings since signing permanently from Middlesex. It should have ended before it began as he chopped Topley to second slip on nought only for the catch to bounce out of Overton’s hands.
He made a 101-ball half-century before sweeping at Virdi, missing, and falling lbw.
Lace was one of five afternoon wickets for Surrey as they kept Gloucestershire in sight, eight down leading by 62. But Jack Taylor, who at one stage was on one from 41 balls, and his brother Matt, nudged their side beyond 300 to regain momentum.