Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Hill gives Glo’sters a mountain to climb
LEWIS Hill’s second first-class century and four wickets from Chris Wright put Leicestershire firmly in command on day two of their County Championship Group Two match against Gloucestershire.
Hill took his overnight 77 to 121 as Leicestershire posted 421 in 144.1 overs – their second-highest total ever at Bristol – with Ben Mike also chipping in with 54.
Wright then helped plunge Gloucestershire from 99 for one to 121 for six in a calamitous half hour for the unbeaten hosts, who closed on 176 for six.
All was well with Gloucestershire’s reply as Chris Dent made a fourth fifty of the summer.
However, he fell to one sent across him from Wright and edged behind for 53 after James Bracey, on 27, played across the line and was lbw to Callum Parkinson.
Ian Cockbain could not get his bat down in time to a full and straight delivery from Wright and was lbw for a third-ball duck.
Tom Lace, on four, then nudged at Dieter Klein and edged low to third slip before Ryan Higgins was squared up by Wright and lbw for five struck on the back pad.
It was a wonderful final session at the end of another excellent day for Leicestershire, who resumed 264 for four and, though they were only able to claim one more batting point, built well through Hill.
When Hill made 126 against Surrey in just his second first-class match in 2015 his career was all before him, but since then only the 2017 season – 554 runs at an average of 30 – has been remotely noteworthy, and he could easily have found himself out of the professional ranks.
However, he has four halfcenturies and a 47 in six innings this season and here reached a longawaited hundred in 176 balls.
A flashing cover drive off Josh Shaw, to a delivery that was by no means a half-volley, was the stroke of the match so far, but he fell just short of his career-best, driving at one from Higgins that was angled in and took out his off stump.
Mike passed fifty in 100 balls, but Leicestershire lost their last four wickets for 28 runs as Dan Worrall finished with five for 79 – an eighth five-for of his career and first for Gloucestershire.
Bristol scores: Leicestershire 421 (L J Hill 121, S T Evans 102, M S Harris 62, B W M Mike 54, D J Worrall 5-79), Gloucestershire 176-6 (C D J Dent 53, C J C Wright 4-24).
■ James Hildreth became the fourthhighest first-class run-maker in Somerset history on the second day of their County Championship match with Middlesex in Taunton, writes Richard Latham.
The 36-year-old batsman went past Bill Alley’s tally of 16,644 while contributing 39 to his side’s first innings total of 178 for four, and now lies behind only Harold Gimblett, Marcus Trescothick and Peter Wight.
Earlier, Middlesex had moved from an overnight 308 for six to 357 all out, Robbie White falling for 92 and Josh Davey claiming three of the wickets in the space of an over.
There were two victims each for Steve Finn and Tim Murtagh when Somerset replied before an fifthwicket stand of 80 between George Bartlett and first-class debutant Lewis Goldsworthy left honours pretty even.
The day began with White, not out on 70, and Luke Hollman adding 24 before Craig Overton uprooted the latter’s off stump for 16.
White had moved to 81 and the total to 338 for seven off 108 overs when rain interrupted play at 11.50am. The action resumed at 1.20pm with two lively overs.
White took two fours and a three off the first of them, bowled by Tom Abell to put his side within a single of a fourth batting point.
But his hopes of a maiden first class century were dashed when he edged Davey’s first ball of the following over to Hildreth at first slip.
The crestfallen White dragged himself off, having faced 224 balls and hit 13 fours.
Two balls later Steve Finn fell lbw, having survived an equally confident appeal first up, and Somerset had their third bowling point.
With one run still needed for a fourth batting point, Tim Murtagh swung two boundaries to third-man, before being caught there to give Davey a third wicket.
Somerset’s reply had reached eight without loss when a lighter shower brought a 15-minute break. Then both openers fell quickly as Tom Lammonby edged a catch behind off Finn and Tom Banton was pinned lbw by Murtagh.
Hildreth looked in good touch as he and Abell took the score to 86 for two at tea. Hildreth had overtaken Darren Stevens as the leading runmaker among players still operating in the domestic game when fencing at the first delivery after tea from Murtagh and being caught behind.
Abell chipped a full ball from Finn to mid-wicket and departed for 41. With the floodlights on, George Bartlett, on 13, was dropped by Sam Robson at second slip.
Drizzle and light issues brought a further break at 120 for four. A 6pm resumption of 15 overs saw Bartlett progress serenely to 43 and 20-yearold Cornishman Goldsworthy move stylishly to 34, an innings rich with promise.
Taunton scores: Middlesex 357 (R G White 92, N R T Gubbins 75), Somerset 178-4.