DAY 1 Close: Essex 300 v Gloucestershire 13-1 (PTS: Essex 3, Glos 3)
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Gloucestershire again failed to capitalise on their strong position on day one in the county championship as Essex recovered from 47-5 to make 300.
Admittedly the weather was the key factor; the early morning cloud saw extravagent swing and the Shire exploited the conditions well with two wickets apiece for James Franklin and Steve Kirby.
The afternoon was almost a completely different game, as the clouds rolled away and the sunshine created the platform from which Essex launched their comeback.
Mark Pettini eventually fell for 91 but not after he had led his team out of the abyss, sharing stands of 91 with Ryan ten Doescathe and 88 with David Masters, who enjoyed the sea air, making an Essex-best 55 and then removed Rob Woodman in the 7 overs Glos faced before the close.
The Garon Park pitch is hard and flat and without the overhead conditions, was excellent to bat on. The Shire will hold high ambitions of gaining a first innings lead into tomorrow.
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Official report: www.gloscricket.co.uk
If the pitch is as hard and true as you say then Glos need to get a 200 lead minimum and try and bat only once. Then Dawson and Taylor could be vital on the last day, and if there is little play on Fri (due to be thundery and 25oC) the pitch will certainly sweat and our quicks could be in with a good chance of rolling Essex over!
ReplyDeleteWas it a poor bowling performance this afternoon or just a docile pitch?
Wow DM, hoping for a 200 lead is more optimistic than even I dare to wish for! We haven't made near 500 yet this season as I recall!
ReplyDeleteSwitching to the other extreme however, I'd be happier to see us make over 250 and ensure we're not going to be the ones to lose by an innings! (less ambitious I know, but whereas we can't win the game tomorrow, we can quite easily throw it away - especially given chances of rain later in the week...)
Ha, well the pitch is meant to be good. I suppose it's the ideal scenario. Glos did get 403-5 versus Derbyshire earlier in the season so everything's possible!
ReplyDeleteI agree - we could capitulate, as we have done so often, tomorrow, but only one batsman down Glos would hope to set a decent target. Hamish Marshall and Chris Taylor are both going into this match with things to prove, as is Steve Adshead, so a big score from one of them wouldn't hurt.
Looking at the state of some of our batting at the moment makes me wonder whether we actually sent Kirbs in as no.3 and not as nightwatchman! (that's pretty close to the line between 'realistic' and 'negative' actually, even in jest!)
ReplyDeleteReally though, the batsmen know they have a lot to prove so we should at least see some batting points. Here's hoping! C'mon The Shire! :-)