Saturday, July 31, 2010

Glamorgan take command on day two

DAY 2 Close: Glamorgan 216 & 283-7 lead Gloucestershire 243 by 256 runs (PTS: Glam 4, Glos 4)
LIVE ball-by-ball commentary on www.gloscricketradio.co.uk

Gloucestershire will have to produce some special cricket to win this crucial county championship match from here. Mark Cosgrove's 123 helped Glamorgan to a lead that Gloucestershire simply do not know how to chase down.

The visitors built in several useful partnerships but the 99 that Cosgrove and Jamie Dalrymple added tipped the balance of power towards the Welsh county.

Jon Lewis was convinced he had Dalrymple lbw first ball after he had dismissed Ben Wright by the same method. Andy Hick's decision to turn down the raucous appeal could be a very important decision.

Gloucestershire did respond briefly. Gemaal Hussain and Steve Kirby produced double strikes after tea but Glamorgan rallied, chiefly through Mark Wallace, who brought up his second half-century of the match from 63 balls - three fewer than his first-innings effort.

Wallace looked in great touch and maneuvered the bowling around effectively before twice reverse-sweeping Vikram Banerjee - who again enjoyed a fruitless afternoon.

Robert Croft joined Wallace to begin another eight-wicket stand as Gloucestershire began dreaming of an unheard-of fourth-innings chase.

Coverage continues tomorrow on www.gloscricketradio.co.uk

Official report: www.gloscricket.co.uk

Friday, July 30, 2010

Tense Day One of crucial match at Cheltenham

DAY 1 Close: Gloucestershire 145-5 trail Glamorgan 216 by 71 runs

A crucial county championship match unfolded in tense fashion on day one at Cheltenham, with Gloucestershire just the happier of the two sides. A crucial game is very delicately poised.

Having reduced their visitors to 104-7, Gloucestershire would have been disappointed to concede a record eighth-wicket stand that pushed Glamorgan to 216. However, the score was as good as could have been hoped for on a firm pitch.

The overhead conditions convinced Alex Gidman to bowl first and his four-man attack delivered. But after Mark Wallace and Robert Croft had dug in sufficiently, they lost their way slightly as the experienced pair put on 105.

Replying after tea, Gloucestershire began brightly. 55 was contributed by Will Porterfield and Jon Batty in an extremely rare half-century opening stand.

But both fell in consecutive overs. Batty to poor footwork - another start thrown away - and Porterfield edged behind after looking in great touch.

Alex Gidman also wasted a chance & Hamish Marshall chipped a long hop down deep midwicket's throat as once again, a lack of discipline wasted an opportunity for the hosts.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Glos open Festival with solid Win

CB40: Gloucestershire 294-6 beat Yorkshire 229ao by 65 runs

Gloucestershire batted brilliantly to set up an excellent victory on day one of the Cheltenham Festival.

Yorkshire - previously undefeated in the Cyldesdale Bank 40 League - are a main contender to qualify from Group B. Gloucestershire batted them under intense pressure & then blew out four wickets in five overs to take a vice-grip of the game.

Chris Taylor picked up from a great platform presented by Alex Gidman and James Franklin to make 83 not out as the home side posted their best 40-over score this season.

Adam Lythe responded for the visitors with 84 very attractive runs but he was the only top-order player to get among the runs & once Anthony McGrath's resistance was ended, Yorkshire petered out to lose comfortable.

More to follow...

Monday, July 26, 2010

Glos squeeze past Derby to go top

CB40: Gloucestershire 152-5 beat Derbyshire 225-8 by one run D/L

Gloucestershire squeezed their way to the top of Group B of the Clydesdale Bank 40 League with the narrowest of victories on the Duckworth-Lewis method.

Under heavy drizzle at the Racecourse ground, Chris Taylor struck the third ball of the 29th over for two runs out to deep extra-cover before the umpires took the players off the field. They didn't return. Taylor's two had pushed his side over the Duckworth-Lewis par score and Gloucestershire won by a run.

The visitors could have been winning by a considerable margin but for Wayne Madsen. He was the mainstay of the Derbyshire innings with 65 from 56 balls and shared a run-a-ball stand of 67 in the middle overs with Greg Smith.

That partnership provided the home side with a mini-platform in the closing stages but Gary Park's 20 from 12 balls only helped Derbyshire to a par score.

With rain threatening, Gloucestershire needed to get on top of the chase and an 83-run opening stand was the perfect answer. But they were pegged back significantly by losing six wickets in 12 overs.

The match was evenly poised but rain ruined what could have been a tense finish and Taylor's final act saw Gloucestershire scrape away the points.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Glos take another thrashing to end miserable campaign

t20: Surrey 150-4 beat Gloucestershire 147-9 by six wickets

Gloucestershire ended their worst-ever t20 campaign by taking a total stuffing from Surrey. The London-based county took under 12 overs to chase 147.

Steve Davies played a wonderful innings of 73 from just 30 balls to blast Surrey to their total.

No-one has played such an innings for Gloucestershire on a regular basis, and hence they haven't been consistently competitive.

Gloucestershire can only take moments of solace from a campaign where they have been so off the pace, bottom position in the south group hasn't told the full story.

Their 11 defeats have been almost exclusively complete hammerings. They so regularly failed to get into matches and the humiliation on Sky against Hampshire compounded the misery. t20 is most certainly not Gloucestershire's game.


More to follow...


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Glos again overpowered by their rivals

t20: Somerset 153-4 beat Gloucestershire 152-9 by six wickets

Somerset again waltzed past their rivals' target to complete a t20 double.

The visitors took just 16.5 overs to overhaul Gloucestershire's mediocre score as their powerful batting line-up again proved why theY are one of the most dangerous t20 outfits.

Gloucestershire actually built potential for a competitive score but the wheels were stripped from their innings as six wickets went down for the loss of just 20 runs.

A great deal rests on James Franklin. The over-reliance on him has been exposed on various occasions throughout this tournament and 20 from 17 balls wasn't enough to propel his side to a good score.

Alex Gidman has provided a few useful scores since he has opened the batting but again he got out before he was able to provide a great contribution.

The collapse killed Gloucestershire's innings and everybody knew 152 was about to be gobbled up.

Marcus Trescothick, while being a truly brilliant batsmen, is no longer the king-pin in the Somerset line-up. It was a great boost for the home supporters when Steve Kirby cleaned him up for just one but the depth in the visitor's batting was demonstrated in truly arrogant fashion as Kieron Pollard walked to the wicket at number six.

Understandably, it was outrageously demoralising for Gloucestershire, who, like at Taunton when his innings blasted down a very stiff target, again blew the boys from Bristol totally out of the water with two fours and three sixes.

The worst thing about Pollard is that he only cost Somerset £20,000 for the whole tournament. The biggest steal in county cricket, considering his IPL auction price of $750,000. One wonders how much Aaron Redmond - who's cricket proved unsuitable for t20 - and Ian Butler - who's injury-ridden past always made him a gamble - took from the Gloucestershire coffers.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Glos hammered out of t20

t20: Essex 163-3 beat Gloucestershire 162-5 by seven wickets

Gloucestershire's exit from the revamped t20 competition was confirmed with a trouncing at Chelmsford.

In the previous two year's the misery hasn't been drawn out for quite so long but in 2010, supporters have had to live through 14 matches-worth of indifferent cricket spread over five weeks before bowing out.

Gloucestershire were without James Franklin and more importantly, the in-form Will Porterfield. The loss of two top-order players who have proved very effective in this year's competition was a major loss, as Aaron Redmond again played an average run-a-ball innings and Alex Gidman failed to progress from a good start with 30 from 18 balls.

Steve Snell's late impetus was vital because the visitors looked horrendously short of batting. Gloucestershire could only post a score that has proved a casual flick off the legs for chasing at Chelmsford - particularly with Essex's strong line-up.

Gloucestershire also had no bowling to defend any score. A curious mix of bowling, including three spinners and weakened without Steve Kirby, couldn't contain Alastair Cook nor Ravi Bopara. It was their 119 opening stand that set-up a comfortable chase, despite Essex completing victory with only eight balls to spare.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Glos claim excellent t20 win

t20: Gloucestershire 188-4 beat Middlesex 185-8 by six wickets

Gloucestershire chased down a stiff total to claim their fifth t20 win.

Will Porterfield again showed his t20 pedigree with 64 from 32 balls as he led the visitors home on a flat dead pitch at Uxbridge.

James Franklin also used his power well at the top of the order. He responded well from his failures at Arundel with a half-century that helped Gloucestershire to their target with four balls to spare.

Remarkably the victory keeps Gloucestershire's hopes of progressing to the quarter-finals alive, however slim.

Steve Kirby was back to his best with the ball. On unproductive surfaces, pace is key and Kirby nipped out the extremely dangerous David Warner before removing both of the home side's most productive batsmen.

Gloucestershire did very well to ensure only one major partnership developed. Neil Dexeter was removed at a crucial stage and there was only time for the next four batsmen to contibute 12 between them.

Friday, July 09, 2010

Glos crash to Arundel defeat

LVCC: Sussex 389 & 50-2 beat Gloucestershire 307 & 131 by eight wickets (PTS: Sussex 23, Glos 6)

A remarkably miserable batting display by Gloucestershire in their second-innings saw them crash to defeat in an important fixture against Sussex.

There should have been no question of a finish on day three. Sussex led by 82 on first-innings but, as has been the case many times previously, application at the crease and desire to bat time were the requirements to bat out for what would have been a solid draw. Gloucestershire evidently posses none of those qualities.

As it transpired, Gloucestershire were bundled out for an embarassingly low total given the pitch - although not perfect - and the conditions - the best of the season for batting.

Hamish Marshall got his head down and made 89 of Gloucestershire's runs; the other 10 batsmen added 42. It was outrageously poor cricket.

Gloucestershire never seem to get to grips with having to come from behind and again at Arundel once Sussex got on a roll, their opponents had absolutely nothing in response.

Five players recorded ducks, including two of the top three. A tricky period just before lunch proved a sucker-punch as Gloucestershire lost Abdul-Kadeer shouldering arms and Jon Batty leg-before to leave them reeling at 3-2.

Alex Gidman briefly got himself in with Marshall and they shared the type of stand that Sussex had produced regularly as they built an excellent first-innings total that lasted almost until lunch on day three.

The only man that could be excused was Chris Taylor - given out sweeping Monty Panesar.

Official report: www.gloscricket.co.uk

Thursday, July 08, 2010

RMJ again thwarts Glos

DAY 2 Close: Sussex 314-6 lead Gloucestershire 307 by seven runs (PTS: Sussex 6, Glos 5)
LIVE ball-by-ball commentary: www.gloscricketradio.co.uk

Robin Martin-Jenkins played for the script wonderfully well on day two at Arundel with 73 not out on his swansong. The innings moved Sussex into a very strong position.

They took a lead of seven by the close and with no joy for Gloucestershire's seam-dominated attack, it became toil by the afternoon.

Sussex built extremely well in partnerships. Everybody bar Mike Thornley got a start and meaningful stands built a good total. Gloucestershire failed to take anymore than the one cheap wicket and are now behind in the game.

Vikram Banerjee had infact moved the visitors into a decent position just after tea when he enticed Matt Prior into chipping to Chris Taylor at extra cover. At 202-5 it was an even game but RMJ, following his match-turning century at Bristol at the start of the season, punched his side's way into acendency.

Being a tall man, Martin-Jenkins is able to stand tall and play strokes from the crease that others would need siginifcant foot movement to play. He punched from a length with regularly - the stroke producing the majority of his 12 boundaries.

Gloucestershire had began the day in positive fashion as Gemaal Hussain and Steve Kirby edged them over the 300 mark for another batting point but the first hour was perhaps the best part of the day for the visitors.

LIVE coverage continues tomorrow on www.gloscricketradio.co.uk

Official report: www.gloscricket.co.uk

Wednesday, July 07, 2010

Taylor rescues Glos at Arundel

DAY 1 Close: Sussex v Gloucestershire 286-9 (PTS: Sussex 3, Glos 2)

Chris Taylor dug Gloucestershire out of an extremely deep hole on day one at Arundel with a very mature innings.

Having won the toss and decided to bat first - a sensible decision given the loose nature of the pitch - the visitors stuttered after a confident start.

Taylor played exceptionally well, particularly against the spinners. He is a great marshall of spin bowling and played over the top and swept to dominate. A loose cut stroke brought his downfall - another failure to covert a half-century into three-figures - but they were vital runs in a crucial match.

Taylor needed support from the lower-order and found it in Jon Lewis, Vikram Banerjee and Gemaal Hussain as Gloucestershire recovered from 142-6.

Abdul-Kadeer played the best innings of his season. He led the batting very well and timed everything extremely well, particularly off the back-foot. But he became caught up in the pressure created by an improved Monty Panesar after lunch and chipped a very soft chance to mid-on.

He wasn't the first, or the last player to give it away when well set. Chris Dent had, again, looked very much a top-order first-class player. He has, however, shown a weakness against spin bowling and tried to force Panesar through the off-side - an area where he had been simply unable to score through - and edged to first slip.

Jon Batty notched up another failure; Hamish Marshall also fell cheaply courtesy of not moving his feet, and Alex Gidman fell over a delivery as the visitors struggled before their fightback.

LIVE coverage continues tomorrow on www.gloscricketradio.co.uk

Official report: www.gloscricket.co.uk

Sunday, July 04, 2010

Kent extinguish Glos hopes

t20: Kent 165-9 beat Gloucestershire by 00 runs

Gloucestershire failed in a stiff chase against a strong and experienced t20 outfit to effectively go out of the competition.

Even though Kent have a poor record in this year's competition, they have better t20 players then Gloucestershire. Kent took enough wickets to strangle the visitors' chase.

Gloucestershire managed to get closer to their target than they managed at King's School three week's ago but gave themselves too much work to do after responding well in the second half of the Kent innings.

More to follow...


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Friday, July 02, 2010

Glos romp home at Bristol

t20: Gloucestershire 154-2 beat Glamorgan 153-7 by eight wickets

Will Porterfield and Steve Kirby turned in personal-best performances to help Gloucestershire to a crushing victory over Glamorgan at Bristol.

Gloucestershire's batting has fired before this season, usually thanks to James Franklin. On this occasion it was Porterfield - clearly an improved cricketer from international experience - who stepped up with 65 from just 27 balls to see the home side race to their target with four overs to spare.

Porterfield has looked useful at the top order in t20 without making a significant score. He lacks power but compensates with innovation and wonderful timing. For a small man to strike four sixes on a large ground was some achievement.

A better achievement was taking 26 of one Chris Ashling over as the visitors were dominated for the second evening in succession.

The Welsh county - without Shaun Tait, whose raw pace troubled Gloucestershire at Cardiff - now have a very mediocre bowling attack. Their best bowler - Dean Cosker - went for 10-an-over as Gloucestershire took advantage to win at an absolute canter: it was as convincing a run chase as you will see.

Aaron Redmond is yet to justify his overseas-star tag. One over for 17 and a 33 from 25 balls was another modest contribution. His fellow countryman also batted modestly but James Franklin and Hamish Marshall needed only to score at a run-a-ball because Porterfield had blazed Gloucestershire's trail to victory.

Glamorgan lacked Tait's pace; Gloucestershire had Steve Kirby's firepower - a crucial factor in t20. Kirby claimed his best return in the shortest format as the home side kept their slim hopes of qualification alive.

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