Gloucestershire disrupted by fragmented day
6 September 2018
Losing two late wickets and 26 overs to bad light and drizzle changed the dynamic of Gloucestershire's Championship match with Middlesex at the Brightside Ground.
With a first innings lead of 54 runs and no interruptions in the morning sesssion, Gloucestershire looked well placed but a promising position was undone by three breaks in play due to the weather and some disciplined bowling which saw Tim Murtagh remove Benny Howell and Gareth Roderick in successive overs.
Gloucestershire will start the final day on 87-4 in their second innings, an overall lead of 141.
Earlier Middlesex had added 60 runs for their last three wickets, the bulk of them put together by the overnight pair of James Harris and Ethan Bamber. David Payne, who took 3-19 on the day, finished with 3-51 overall.
Watch head coach Richard Dawson's thought on the match position here :
CLOSE OF PLAY REACTiON: Head coach Richard Dawson reflects on day 3 against @Middlesex_CCC which ends with @Gloscricket 87-4, 141 runs ahead. pic.twitter.com/bp4S4KspDm
— Gloucestershire CCC (@Gloscricket) September 6, 2018
Middlesex began the day 114 runs behind at 182-7, and Harris and Bamber played correctly and competently against the old ball for the first 11 overs to push Middlesex past 200 and earn them only their ninth batting point of the season.
There had been little to encourage Matt Taylor and Ben Charlesworth, and even with the second new ball David Payne and Ryan Higgins strove fruitlessly until after Bamber steered Higgins to third man to bring up the fifty partnership.
Gloucestershire were down to only one slip at this point, but David Payne didn't need one to finally remove Harris, who having made 35 spooned a leading edge back down the pitch to offer an easy return catch.
The remaining two wickets fell for the addition of only eight runs, James Fuller edging Payne to 'keeper Roderick and Tim Murtagh steering the same bowler to Bracey at point to leave Gloucestershire with a handy advantage.
Chris Dent and Miles Hammond saw out the two overs until lunch, but only three more were bowled at the resumption before the players had to go off for bad light as dark clouds enveloped the ground for the first time.
Play did not resume until after an early tea and with 13 overs lost, and in the seven overs possible before another interruption Dent was run out by a throw from Nick Gubbins after Miles Hammond worked Bamber to mid wicket. The skipper had committed himself to a second run and could not regain his ground.
The stop-start nature of such days does little to help the rhythm of the batting side, and while Miles Hammond appeared to adjust quickly when they re-appeared at 4 o'clock, he lost three partners at the other end before the players were once again heading for the pavilion.
James Bracey played inside the line of a ball from Fuller that hit off stump, and then Murtagh, having switched ends, picked up two quick wickets in identical fashion as both Howell and Roderick found Stirling and Malan respectively at mid wicket.
Hammond (43*) and Jack Taylor negotiated the final 11 overs to leave Gloucestershire 87-4 overnight, 141 ahead but with work still to do on the final day.
