REPORT: Gloucestershire game evenly poised after two days
Today's match report presented by C&C Insurance Brokers
Lancashire and Gloucestershire remain locked in an even battle as both teams attempt to gain the advantage with the visitors on 184 for two in their first innings and trailing by 266 runs after two days of this Rothesay County Championship match at Emirates Old Trafford.
Lancashire had added 108 runs to their overnight score of 342 for five to be all out for 450 just after lunch with Ajeet Singh Dale the pick of the Gloucestershire bowlers finishing with three for 67 and Josh Shaw and Tom Price taking a brace apiece.
A century partnership for the third wicket between Ollie Price and Miles Hammond then helped Gloucestershire recover from a faltering 74 for two to reach the close in much better shape going into the third day.
Cameron Bancroft and Ben Charlesworth had an uncertain start when the visitors began their reply early in the afternoon in the face of some disciplined bowling from Tom Bailey and Saqib Mahmood.
But it was George Balderson, brought on as first-change, who made the breakthrough in an excellent seven-over spell of one for 19 that included his 100th first-class wicket when he bowled Bancroft between bat and pad for 18.
Charlesworth had produced a number of fierce pulls for four in advancing steadily through the afternoon to reach 43 until he was deceived by a nicely flighted delivery from Tom Hartley to drive a catch back to the bowler just before tea.
Ollie Price and Hammond dug in as Lancashire applied good pressure by bowling straight and offering few scoring opportunities with Hartley’s eleven over spell returning figures of one for 26 while Bailey and Mahmood were in a parsimonious mood at the opposite end.
But the Gloucestershire pair repelled everything that came their way before flourishing through the evening session, although Hammond had a close call when he edged Turner to Bell at first slip with the umpires ruling the ball had not carried.
The pair both reached their half centuries just before the close, Hammond from 87 balls and Price taking 119 deliveries with their unbroken partnership worth 110 runs by stumps.
With the new ball due in 18 overs time a critical passage of play beckons tomorrow morning.
At the start of this morning Gloucestershire had an early success when first day century-maker Marcus Harris bottom-edged a square cut off Singh Dale onto his stumps for 167 having added just two runs to his overnight score.
But Luke Wells twice drove Price for four to bring a third batting point and with Balderson alongside took Lancashire to the brink of a fourth only to be thwarted when lbw to Shaw for 38 in the 110th over with the Red Rose side 393 for seven when the cut-off for bonus points arrived four balls later.
Shaw also trapped Balderson in front for 6 but Hartley and Bailey combined well to push the score along in a nicely constructed ninth-wicket partnership of 49, Hartley driving to good effect in making 35.
Tom Price finally found some reward for plugging away throughout the innings when Hartley edged behind just after lunch and Turner was lbw next ball leaving Bailey unbeaten on 22.
“I think we bowled really well at the end and were a bit unlucky not to get a few more wickets,” said Tom Hartley.
“We stuck at it pretty well. We assessed the wicket and realised we had to go with a lot more straighter fields,” he added.
“It's not doing a whole lot out there. Obviously, a few spun, which was nice. But for the seamers, it was about being disciplined.
“And I think John Turner really bowled well in that last session and was unfortunate not to get a couple.
“But hopefully, we can come back tomorrow and finish the job off.
“I think, if we're being honest, maybe there was a few more runs out there (for us). A few batsmen would have thought their wickets were a bit soft, but that's just being critical on ourselves.
“But to get 450 on the board, it gives the bowlers a lot of confidence. And I think that showed with our bowling display today.”
“I was fairly happy (with how I bowled). I think my job on day two, first innings, is to try and hold a little bit. And I thought I did that.
“Hopefully in the morning, if I get a go before the new ball, I'll (aim to) pick up a couple more wickets and I'll say that's my job done.
“And there's a bit of rough that the seamers have kindly made for me.
“If we can take a few more wickets before the new ball tomorrow, I think we'll be in a good place.
Ken Grime
Photos: Luke Adams & Dan Adams
