Benny Impresses On Tough Day For Batting
19 April 2012
Benny Howell top scored with 44 as Gloucestershire faced a tough examination from Kent's bowlers on the opening day of the LV County Championship match at Canterbury.
The visitors closed a day heavily curtailed by bad weather on 131-6 after home skipper Rob Key had won an important toss.
Howell found himself walking out for his Gloucestershire debut at 4-1, with Chris Dent having been caught behind by Geraint Jones off Charlie Shrek for four.
The former Hampshire player acquitted himself well, facing 74 balls and hitting 6 fours before being fifth man out with the total on 73.
Richard Coughtrie, Alex Gidman and Hamish Marshall all fell cheaply as Kent seamers Mark Davies (2-19) and Matt Coles (3-37) exploited the bowler friendly conditions.
When Howell was out Gloucestershire were in deep trouble. But Ian Cockbain and Will Gidman then added 58 for the sixth wicket with some fighting cricket.
The partnership ended when Cockbain was caught by Coles off Davies for 32. Ed Young faced only two balls before bad light ended play for the day with Will Gidman unbeaten on 25.
At the close skipper Alex Gidman told this website: "It was a bad day to lose the toss, with cloud and rain about, and it was always going to be tough for batting.
"We felt one or two decisions didn't go our way, but we hung in there and you wouldn't expect it to be a high scoring game because the forecast is for the weather to remain pretty much the same.
"Benny Howell played nicely, with a good game plan, which he executed well, so it was a good start for him with us."
Paul Muchall replaced James Fuller in the other change from the team who beat Hampshire. Alex explained: "It was a purely a question of rotation. James had been through a tough couple of weeks and we want to keep our bowlers as fresh as possible to guard against injury."
For more details of the opening day at Canterbury click on Cricket and then Match Reports.
