Kane Hits Ton To Lead Fightback
4 May 2012
Kane Williamson hit an unbeaten 106 as Gloucestershire hit back strongly on the third day of the LV=County Championship match with Derbyshire at Derby.
The New Zealander built on his excellent international form of the winter, striking 13 boundaries, to help the visitors to 219-2 in their second innings, a lead of 37 runs, having been made to follow-on.
Benny Howell justified his promotion to opener by scoring 64, while skipper Hamish Marshall was 32 not out at stumps, having added 94 with Williamson.
An excellent day for Gloucestershire began when they claimed an unlikely batting bonus point. Last wicket pair Paul Muchall (21) and Ian Saxelby (19 not out) took the first innings score from an overnight 172-9 to 206 all out.
That was still 182 runs short of Derbyshire's first innings total. But despite losing Chris Dent with only eight second innings runs on the board, Gloucestershire were in no mood to surrender.
Howell hit his runs off 124 balls, with 7 fours and a six. When he was dismissed with the total on 125, Williamson was already set and on his way to a hundred off 209 balls.
At the close Hamish Marshall told this website: "We still have a lot of work to do, but if we can bat for a couple of sessions tomorrow we can draw the game.
"There is even a chance we could put a bit of pressure on Derbyshire in their second innings, but that is a long way off at present.
"The tone of the day was set by Paul Muchall and Ian Saxelby, who used up an hour of the day, as well as earning us a bonus point, and provided real confidence for our second innings.
"We knew Benny Howell was capable of making runs at the top of the order and he played really well. Kane showed his growing maturity by setting a tempo for himself and sticking to it.
"He made batting look easy and by the time I went in a platform had been set. The odd ball is doing something, but it is basically a good pitch and the aim tomorrow will be to bat for as long as possible."
For more details on day three at Derby click on Cricket and then Match reports.
