Simmering Saturday ends with honours even
10 June 2017
Championship cricket takes many forms. Some burst into life early on and bubble along in similar fashion throughout. Saturday's play at the Brightside Ground was the complete opposite, as both Gloucestershire and Nottinghamshire tried to wrestle control of the match only to find the other wouldn't give way.
Batsmen on both sides found free scoring more difficult than pure occupation of the crease, so much so that the day produced a modest 268 runs and only six wickets, although Gloucestershire critically removed Indian Test player Cheteshwar Pujara for 67 just before the close.
At stumps, in reply to Gloucestershire's 303 all out, Nottinghamshire had reached 221-3, and they'll start the third day 82 runs behind.
Listen to Graeme van Buuren's thoughts on the day here:
Play started with Gloucestershire on 256-7, and with 14 overs to try and secure a further batting point. The sub plot was whether Gareth Roderick could find another dozen runs to complete a century on his return to first team action. One was achieved, while the other was agonisingly short.
Roderick and Craig Miles resumed their eighth wicket stand against Gurney and Wood, with Miles comfortably punching Wood past point twice for four when any width was offered. A flat batted pull by Roderick took him to within one scoring stroke of his hundred, only to play around a full length ball on 96 and see Wood splay his stumps.
The pair had added 48, and David Payne's departure to the next delivery left Chris Liddle, as Phil Mustard had been on the first afternoon, facing a hat trick ball. He survived, and stayed long enough for Miles to manufacture nine runs off the 110th over to bring up the 300. A sixth first class fifty for Miles was also now within sight, but the spin of Patel ended affairs as Miles was trapped lbw for 47 in his first over of the day. He would later prove a thorn in Gloucestershire's side with the bat too.
45 minutes remained until lunch for Nottinghamshire to respond to Gloucestershire's 303, and despite the experiment of Kieran Noema-Barnett sharing the new ball with David Payne, openers Mullaney and Libby quietly ticked up 32 runs without undue fuss.
Any pie chart for the pattern of run scoring by both players would have shown deep colours square of and behind the wicket, with the dab to third man and a flick off the pads being the dominant shots, although only Chris Liddle failed to exert any control.
It was Graeme van Buuren's left arm spin - initially introduced so Craig Miles could change ends - which provided the breakthrough at the start of a marathon 22 over spell, Mullaney (38) playing an ugly stroke and lofting a straight forward catch to Payne at mid on.
SO CLOSE! A superb innings from Roderick comes to an end as he is bowled by Wood for 96.
Applause from the members pic.twitter.com/r3EPB5nhUv
— Gloucestershire CCC (@Gloscricket) June 10, 2017
Now bowling downwind, Miles then removed Libby for 30 in the next over, Roderick taking a routine catch from the faintest of edges. He was the seventh batsman in the match to get out between 25 and 50, although it was a marker passed by both Nottinghamshire's third wicket pair.
Soon after they joined forces it was clear Cheteshwar Pujara and Samit Patel were booking in for a long stay. Neither of them was ruffled by van Buuren whipping through his overs or by an extended and economical spell by Miles, and although by tea they had added 51 the stand had taken 22 overs as timing remained challenging.
Gloucestershire captain Phil Mustard will have been pleased that his bowlers plugged away to contain such an experienced pair until late in the day when both completed fifties which had called for hard graft, Patel's coming from 120 balls, and Pujara's 132. Between them, there were 12 boundaries.
With the new ball due on Sunday morning it was therefore a bonus to see Pujara miscue Jack Taylor to Noema-Barnett at short cover for 67 in the penultimate over. Patel's share of their stand of 146 was 78, and he'll resume alongside night watchman Luke Fletcher with Nottinghamshire 221-3, 82 runs behind.
