DAY 1 Close: Gloucestershire 128 v Sussex 152 (PTS: Glos 3, Sussex 3)
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Lightning doesn't strike twice but it seems to when Gloucestershire are involved. Another truly unbelievable day's cricket at Bristol saw 20 wickets fall and another assessment from the ECB pitch inspector beacons - this time there may be no escape from a points deduction.
However, once again, the surface offered no extravagant movement off the pitch. The six LBW decisions in the Gloucestershire innings could certainly all be attributed to batsmen playing across the line - Chris Taylor in particular, who once more worked his way to the highest score in the innings but again played the worst shot of the day.
As I write, the groundstaff are having a long look at the surface they have produced - only a test on a better surface will tell how much of an affect these Bristol wickets are having on the match. One thing is for certain, it is not working in Gloucestershire's favour.
The day was made more remarkable by a fairly comfortable opening stand of 61 between Chris Nash and Mike Thornley. Although sluggish - acceptable for April - the pitch seemed to be playing true. Gloucestershire then ran through the Sussex line up with some decent bowling; Franklin especially just found good areas for his 4/27.
Where do Gloucestershire go from here? Their confidence completely shot on this surface I cannot see them chasing anything above 200 at the very most. Although 24 is a slender lead, it's very much advantage Sussex.
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Good bowling, awful batting (apart from the Sussex openers), nothing much wrong with the pitch.
ReplyDeleteAt least, as far as I could see...