County need 314 more to win at Cheltenham
Fri 17 Jul 2015
Charlie Shreck took his second five-for of the summer but Gloucestershire’s batsmen knuckled down to set Leicestershire 325 to win the LV=CC County Championship match at Cheltenham.
Gloucestershire resumed on 54-2 and Michael Klinger (60) and Gareth Roderick extended their third wicket partnership to 56 before Benny Howell (102) hit a maiden first-class century in adding 139 for the fifth wicket with Kieran Noema-Barnett (61).
The home side's second innings came to an end on 321-9 with injured skipper Ian Cockbain unable to bat, Shreck’s 5-82 off 34 probing overs moving him to 49 LV=CC wickets for the summer.
Leicestershire survived the final eight overs of the day to reach 11 for 0, therefore requiring a further 314 to win off a minimum of 96 overs.
The hosts survived one or two early scares in the morning session on day three, adding 61 runs for the loss of ‘keeper Roderick.
Stand-in captain Klinger was put down by wicket-keeper Lewis Hill off Ben Raine when he had scored 21, having already been the subject of a huge appeal for another caught behind, once again off the bowling of the all-rounder.
The Australian lost Roderick, who added just eight to his overnight total of 11 before edging Clint McKay to Hill, at 93-3 in the 42nd over.
With Cockbain out of action, Howell joined Klinger at the crease and played his part in guiding Gloucestershire into a 118-run lead when lunch arrived.
Klinger, whose resolve was tested by McKay (34-10-93-3), survived another appeal, this time for lbw by Raine, but was unbeaten on 46 with Howell 14 not out.
Gloucestershire enjoyed another solid session between lunch and tea, adding 87 runs in losing just one wicket.
Klinger registered a patient 50 shortly after lunch from 121 balls (10x4) but departed for 60, caught behind by Hill as Shreck claimed his third wicket of the innings at 131-4.
Leicestershire sensed their opportunity and continued to bowl with purpose thereafter but Howell and Noema-Barnett helped Gloucestershire pass 150 in the 74th over and went on to share the highest stand of the game.
Howell, who recognised his responsibility in the absence of Cockbain, dropped anchor and batted with genuine care and attention before the new ball was taken in the 81st over.
With the New Zealander providing useful support, Howell pushed on and eventually passed 50 in the penultimate over of the session off 156 balls, with four fours and one six.
By the time tea arrived, the pair had put on an unbeaten 71 with Howell unbeaten on 50 and Noema-Barnett 36 not out to extend the lead to 205.
The duo cashed in on their hard work - and broke an eight-session trend of slow scoring - by adding 62 in the first eight overs of the final session.
The partnership moved into three figrues before Noema-Barnett reached his 50 off 86 balls (6x4, 1x6) with the score on 242-4. A further 28 runs were yielded before the alliance was ended when Noema-Barnett chipped Shreck to Greg Smith at extra cover.
Having celebrated his 100 off 202 deliveries, Howell, who hit 12 fours and a six, was out off the very next ball, lbw to McKay for 102.
Gloucestershire's late order added 37 valuable runs with Jack Taylor scoring 11 off 10 before being bowled by McKay and James Fuller making 17 not out.
Craig Miles (9) became Shreck’s fifth victim courtesy of a catch by Mark Cosgrove and Liam Norwell (5) was caught behind off Raine (23.4-8-65-1) at 321 for 9.
That left Matthew Boyce (2*) and Angus Robson (5*) a tricky eight-over period and they ensured Leicestershire will take all ten second innings wickets into the final day of what has been a terrific contest.
