Game at Cheltenham continues to intrigue
Thu 16 Jul 2015
Mark Cosgrove, Aadil Ali and Charlie Shreck played key roles as the LV=CC match at Cheltenham continues to intrigue.
The captain top-scored with 74 from 155 balls and Ali made an equally patient 40 off 119 as Leicestershire finished three short of Gloucestershire’s first innings total on 215.
The Festival hosts started their second innings without the injured Ian Cockbain, who fractured his wrist in the nets this morning, and lost both openers to the evergreen Shreck in closing on 54-2 from 27 overs.
Batting has been hard work in the match, with 48 being the highest partnership so far, so everything is set up nicely with Gloucestershire 57 ahead and effectively three down.
In today's first session, Cosgrove reached a 94-ball fifty that included eight fours. The left-hander was 63 not out at lunch as Leicestershire, who resumed on 56-3, advanced their score to 131-5, still 87 behind.
Offering his captain staunch support in a fourth-wicket stand of 40, nightwatchman Jigar Naik (10 from 60 balls) frustrated the home side for an hour on the second day before driving at Benny Howell and edging to Chris Dent at second slip.
Greg Smith struck four boundaries in making 20 out of a 31-run partnership with Cosgrove but was out shortly before lunch, offering a return catch to Kieran Noema-Barnett.
The Kiwi’s second wicket arrived after the interval and it was the key one of Cosgrove. County’s captain was caught at the wicket by Gareth Roderick having made 74 of the 149 runs scored to that point.
Ali had batted well in putting on 29 with Cosgrove and the youngster added 38 more useful runs with Hill before the ‘keeper was bowled by Liam Norwell for 18.
The new ball was taken after 83 overs, two overs before tea was scheduled, and a wicket fell before the interval. Craig Miles struck with his first delivery back, taking a simple catch off his own bowling to dismiss Ben Raine (7) with Leicestershire still 16 in arrears on 202.
Another wicket fell on that total as Fuller bowled Ali shortly after tea. Clint McKay (13) then hit three fours and looked to have put Leicestershire into the lead with a lofted straight drive off the New Zealander but Miles had other ideas.
The fielder started at long-on, ran a fair distance to his left and managed to cling on to a brilliant diving effort as Fuller returned season best figures of 4-35.
Gloucestershire effectively started their second innings on 3-1 and opening batsmen Will Tavare (8) and Dent (23) became the 45th and 46th Championship victims of the season for Shreck in consecutive overs from the tall seamer.
Tavare was bowled while Dent was snared leg before as Shreck took 2-12 off 10 overs - and four of those came off the edge as Roderick attempted to leave.
The 'keeper and Michael Klinger - now captaining the team in Cockbain's absence - ended the day on 11 apiece and Leicestershire will be looking to break that stand early on the third morning.
