Dent Top Scores On Disappointing Day
3 May 2012
A Chris Dent half-century was not enough to save Gloucestershire from the prospect of a major first innings deficit on the second day of the LV=County Championship match at Derby.
By the close the visitors had replied to Derbyshire's 388 with 172-9, opener Dent contributing 55 off 81 balls, with 8 fours,
Kane Williamson (25) and Will Gidman (21) were the only other batsmen to offer much resistance as seamer Tony Palladino picked up 5-47 from 18 overs.
Derbyshire had begun the day on 362-9 and added 26, thanks largely to Jonathan Clare, who added 17 to his score in just 2.1 overs before being bowled by Ian Saxelby for 48.
Saxelby finished with 3-79 and James Fuller 3-64, but dropped catches and a poor afternoon session on the opening day allowed the home side a higher total than they should have made.
That became apparent when Benny Howell departed for a third ball duck on promotion to open with Dent. But Gloucestershire recovered to 97-2 at one stage.
The next seven wickets went for just 75 runs on a bowler-friendly day in which only 56.1 overs were possible.
At the close skipper Hamish Marshall told this website: "Chris Dent and Kane Williamson laid a foundation for our innings with a partnership, but we failed to capitalise on it.
"It was a tough day weather wise with a lot of drizzle, which meant we were on and off several times. And at the end of the day the lights were on, which also made life difficult.
"We lost a couple of late wickets in the artificial light before the umpires decided enough was enough. But in truth we didn't bat well enough and we will be looking to do a lot better in our second innings.
"The Derbyshire attack maintained good line and length, which kept the pressure on us all day.
"All is not lost. We have turned games around before from this sort of position and if we can post a decent scored when we bat again it could give out bowlers something to work with on the final day."
For more details on the second day at Derby click on Cricket and then Match reports.
