Double-century puts Dent in County's day
Fri 31 Aug 2018
SCORE | Day 3 of 4, Specsavers County Championship: Gloucestershire CCC 202 and 402-4 dec v Leicestershire CCC 111 & 117-6
SCORECARD | Available through ESPN Cricinfo
REACTION | Mark Cosgrove spoke to BBC Radio Leicester’s Richard Rae at stumps
HIGHLIGHTS | In-play highlights are available throughout the 2018 season
REPORT | Gloucestershire CCC produced a strong performance with bat and ball for a second day in succession to make life extremely tough at the Brightside Ground, Bristol.
The Foxes fought hard for early wickets but as they were not forthcoming, Gloucestershire CCC held the aces as the third day wore on.
With captain Chris Dent at the crease throughout, they were perfectly placed to judge both the tempo of their second innings and when to declare.
That point arrived at 402 for four with the skipper unbeaten on 214. Neil Dexter and Colin Ackermann each claimed two wickets for County.
It meant that Leicestershire CCC would require 494 from a minimum of 137 overs, and the Foxes closed at 112 for six with Mark Cosgrove unbeaten on 42.
The hosts resumed 243 runs ahead, and although Abbas and Griffiths bowled tight lines and asked questions, there was no immediate breakthrough.
Dent and James Bracey were generally watchful in those early exchanges. The stand passed 50 before Bracey found time for one of his trademark cover drives that was sent across the turf in the direction of the Memorial Stadium, home of Bristol Rovers FC.
Gloucestershire CCC’s opening session plan was something that visitors to the football ground would have been pleased with – defend well, absorb pressure, counter-attack, and then look to play with more freedom after gaining a foothold.
Dent was quick to latch on to anything dropped short, demonstrated as controlled strokes either side of the wicket allowed the skipper to collect a brace of fours in the 60th over.
Ackermann was introduced as the Foxes changed tack, but some scampering interspersed with the occasional boundary ensured that the alliance became the second in succession to reach three figures.
The lead moved beyond 300 before the off-spinner created an opportunity when Dent drove firmly back in the 67th, but the ball was hit at head-height and burst through his fingers.
County did not have to wait long to claim their second wicket though, Dexter claiming a wicket in his first over of the day from the Pavilion End as Bracey edged to Ned Eckersley.
There was no drop in intent, though, as Dent and Howell both cleared the ropes in registering 17 runs in the 71st over. The left-hander’s maximum took him to a century from 198 balls. He also struck 15 fours in the landmark.
Gloucestershire CCC went to lunch at 261 for two, an overall lead of 352, and Dent continued to play well, including driving to the ropes through mid-off and mid-on in the 82nd over.
Dent moved to 150 (241b, 20x4, 1x6) with an excellent pull stroke, and he continued to dominate against the short-pitched deliveries as another stand reached 100, this time with Howell.
The No.4 batsman also went for his shots, reaching 50 from 77 balls (4x4, 1x6), while Dent struck a second maximum before recording 200 from 281 balls (24x4, 2x6).
Their third wicket alliance ended at 183 when Howell was lbw to Ackermann, who then had Jack Taylor (0) caught by Abbas at long-on two balls later.
Dent called time on the innings to allow his seamers a nine-over burst before tea, and the move paid dividends as Harry Dearden (5) nicked Craig Miles to a diving Gareth Roderick, and Ackermann was caught at extra cover off Payne.
Leicestershire CCC went to tea at 24-2 with Horton on 10 and Cosgrove 4, and there was a further blow when the skipper was trapped lbw by Miles without further addition in the first over of the final session.
When Higgins had Dexter (4) caught at slip and pinned Eckersley (8) leg before wicket, Leicestershire CCC was at 52 for five in the 26th over.
But Cosgrove was fighting hard, and an entertaining partnership developed with Raine, who played in trademark aggressive fashion with his first three scoring strokes flying to the fence.
Cosgrove and Raine (30) were on to anything short in a flash, and when the latter recorded his fifth boundary, the duo had recorded their 50 partnership.
Raine’s positive approach helped to yield 60 for the sixth wicket with Cosgrove. But the all-rounder lofted Miles to Matt Taylor at mid-off at the end of the penultimate over, with Callum Parkinson (4*) seeing out the final over with Cosgrove.
TEAM | Horton (capt), Dearden, Ackermann, Cosgrove, Dexter, Eckersley (wk), Raine, Parkinson, Klein, Griffiths, Abbas.
FIGURES | 1st innings: Abbas 20.3-11-30-5, Raine 22-9-44-3, Klein 10-4-20-0, Griffiths 16-3-37-1, Parkinson 11-2-32-0, Dexter 5-2-16-0, Ackermann 3-0-3-1.
2nd innings: Abbas 16-7-19-0, Raine 16-5-53-0, Griffiths 10-2-30-0, Klein 13-0-103-0, Dexter 15-2-53-2, Ackermann 8.3-0-26-2, Parkinson 21-1-109-0.
PHOTO | Thanks to John Mallett for the photo of Mark Cosgrove and Neil Dexter.
* Leicestershire CCC’s next Specsavers County Championship home game is against leaders Warwickshire CCC on Monday, September 10 (10.30am start). Tickets cost £12 for adults and £2 for under 16s and are available for all four days HERE
