Second XI v Worcestershire Second XI Review
25/04/2010
Gloucestershire Second XI started the season in the sunshine with three days at Gloucester City Winget. A review of the match, which began on 14th April, is below.
After losing the toss Gloucestershire were put in the field and found it to be a long day with Worcestershire piling on the runs. Former Middlesex player Shaun Levy, trialling for Worcestershire, made 163 not out and was well supported by Pardoe 81 and Pinner 63 seeing Worcestershire amass 366 for 2. The bowlers worked hard all day with spinners Banerjee and Dawson both making a number of opportunities but unfortunately they were not taken and on a very good wicket the batters prospered.
Declaring with half an hour to go on Day One left a tricky period to bat but Rob Woodman and Michael Beard saw the team through to the close without losing a wicket.
On Day Two Woodman made 29 before edging a swinging ball to the keeper and Beard followed shortly in the same way. Hamza Taj made 39 before cutting a short delivery to point. Being reduced to 103 for 5 Gloucestershire looked in trouble but Jack Taylor (59) and David Payne (60) showed the early order batters just how to apply themselves and lifted the innings before both falling within two overs.
Captain Richard Dawson then went in, and with Anthony Ireland, struck the ball well. Dawson hit a hard drive which was excellently caught at Point and Gloucestershire declared shortly after, with one hour left in the day and the score on 273 for 9.
Worcestershire’s second innings wasn’t as easy for them as the first and Payne (3 for 37) and Ireland tested the batters out for the last hour closing the day on 44 for 2.
The battle continued on Day Three and with some smart field setting from Dawson and tighter fielding Worcestershire were kept to 195 for 5 at lunch where they declared. Setting Gloucestershire 2nd XI 289 to win in the two remaining sessions.
In reply Gloucestershire got off to a measured start but lost the wickets of Woodman, Karan Kumar and Hamza Taj. Michael Beard played well for 22 but was then out leaving Gloucestershire 74 for 4. With Ireland and Dawson coming to the wicket needing 215 off 34 overs the game appeared to be heading for a draw but both put bat to ball and gave the innings some real impetus. Unfortunately both fell within an over of each other and first innings top score Payne went quickly after. With 24 over left in the game and 7 down it looked like a tough as but Jack Taylor 43 not out and Vikram Banerjee 22 not out the game finished in a draw.
The game was an excellent practice for the Second XI and Gloucester City Winget were great hosts.
