Gloucestershire under GrahamB (story)

[GrahamB]

I think I'll take the blame for those back to back defeats following my previous comment

LOL - I'll forgive you.

[DaveRobbo]

I think I'll take the blame for those back to back defeats following my previous comment

[GrahamB]

FC Match 10 - Away v Leicestershire

Ryan Higgins has had a call-up to the England T20 squad, so we'll be without his services for this game.
Stu Whittingham comes into the side as a result and that is the only change.
Conditions on the first day are looking rather nasty, so we'll be taking the option of bowling first.

In other news, a couple of youth players have been promoted to the squad, but neither looks any good.


Gloucestershire

M.Hammond
B.Charlesworth
I.Cockbain (captain)
G.van Buuren
T.Hellawell
A.Hunt
G.Roderick (wk)
F.Adams
O.Robinson
D.Payne
S.Whittingham


Leicestershire

M.Cosgrove
H.Dearden
C.Ackermann
M.West
N.Dexter
P.Rattee (wk)
U.Arshad
G.Griffiths
T.Taylor
D.Klein
W.Davis

[GrahamB]

What a slow pitch to score runs from with any ease!

We were put into bat and discovered this straight away.
In an interesting difference of approach, Lancashire had gone into the game with two front-line spinners, whereas we'd gone in with a pace quartet.
At one stage we were 149/6 and struggling, but thanks mainly to an unbeaten 76 from Ferisco Adams, we crawled through to 272 all out (off 121 overs) on the second morning.
Although the always reliable Tom Bailey picked up three wickets, it was Jack Leach who stood out with 6/82.

The visiting batsmen struggled just as much to get the ball away, and number three Rob Jones was unable to find anyone to stick around with him for too long aside from the veteran Steve Croft.
Jones finished on 76no when the Lancashire innings ended at 190 all out (101 overs).
Oliver Robinson was the most successful of our bowlers, finishing with 4/56.

We needed to build upon our 82 run first innings lead and then declare at the right time to give ourselves a chance of victory.
However, scoring was becoming even more difficult.
Miles Hammond led the way with a gritty 65 and we eventually declared at 208/5 (92 overs), leaving our opponents 291 to chase in two sessions.
Under very cloudy overhead conditions in the middle session, wickets fell like nine-pins and Lancashire were six down at tea.
It was just a case of mopping up in the final session, and we won with plenty of time to spare.
Ferisco Adams starred with a haul of 5/39, as Lancashire were rolled for a miserable 91 all out.


Gloucestershire - 272 (F.Adams-76no, J.Leach-6.82, T.Bailey-3/72)

Lancashire - 190 (R.Jones-76no, O.Robinson-4/56)

Gloucestershire - 208/5 declared (M.Hammond-65)

Lancashire - 91 (F.Adams-5/39, O.Robinson-3/23)

Win to Gloucestershire by 199 runs.


Still third on the points table.

[GrahamB]

FC Match 9 - Home v Lancashire

We've decided to give young Ben Charlesworth a try as opening partner for Miles Hammond.
Therefore Benny Howell drops out and David Payne comes in, giving us a pace quartet.
Conditions are expected to be unsettled/cloudy/very cloudy throughout the four days.


Gloucestershire

M.Hammond
B.Charlesworth
I.Cockbain (captain)
G.van Buuren
T.Hellawell
A.Hunt
G.Roderick (wk)
F.Adams
R.Higgins
O.Robinson
D.Payne


Lancashire

K.Jennings
A.Davies
R.Jones
D.Vilas (wk)
H.Hameed
S.Croft
K.Boxer
T.Bailey
J.Leach
R.Patel
J.Anderson


Lancashire have opted to bowl first.

[GrahamB]

Well guys - the bubble has well and truly burst now!

It was a 50/50 call as to whether or not to bat first at Glamorgan. We chose to bat.
However, there was more life in the pitch on Day 1 than we'd expected, and aside from dogged half centuries to Graeme van Buuren and Gareth Roderick plus a decent knock from Anthony Hunt, there was little else to enthuse about.
We were dismissed for a modest 243.
Marchant de Lange had fire in his nostrils and bowled superbly to finish with 5/68.

Turns out that Day 2 was the best time for batting and the hosts made us suffer big-time!
A big century to promising young Anthony Copperfield and another from Billy Root were the dominant contributions, as Glamorgan piled on a sizable first innings lead before declaring as the clouds rolled in. Kiran Carlson also played his part with a half century.
Ben Charlesworth picked up three victims with his part-time spin, but was a bit expensive for my liking.

It was a tough second dig for us, with overcast skies and a pitch taking a lot of turn.
Tom Hellawell shone through with his third FC century of the season, but despite defiant knocks from Benny Howell, Ian Cockbain and Charlesworth, we could only accumulate 312 all out.
Billy Root was a real handful and took 5/64.

Glamorgan only needed 52 runs for victory, and they were relatively untroubled in getting them.


Gloucestershire - 248 (G.van Buuren-74, G.Roderick-64, M.de Lange-5/68)

Glamorgan - 504/7 declared (A.Copperfield-174, B.Root-124, K.Carlson-65, B.Charlesworth-3/76)

Gloucestershire - 312 (T.Hellawell-115, B.Root-5/64)

Glamorgan - 54/1

Win to Glamorgan by 9 wickets.


We have dropped to third on the points table. Only the top two will promote, so we'd better recover our poise quickly.
If the physio could massage bruised egos, she'd be working overtime at present!

[GrahamB]

FC Match 8 - Away v Glamorgan

Two changes to our playing eleven, with Ben Charlesworth replacing Nathan Sowter and Oliver Robinson replacing David Payne.
Ben has not let us down with his batting in the limited number of chances he has had for us, plus his part-time spin is worth another shot.


Gloucestershire

M.Hammond
B.Howell
I.Cockbain (captain)
G.van Buuren
T.Hellawell
A.Hunt
G.Roderick (wk)
F.Adams
R.Higgins
B.Charlesworth
O.Robinson


Glamorgan

J.Lawlor
J.Murphy
A.Copperfield
C.Ingram
K.Carlson
B.Root
C.Cooke (wk)
C.Hemphrey
M.de Lange
T.van der Gugten
L.Carey


We will be batting first.

[GrahamB]

Well they say that pride cometh before a fall, and so hopefully our defeat against Durham will serve as a stark wake-up call for our lads.

On Day 1 our much vaunted batting line-up was ripped apart by the fearsome Durham pace attack. They have some real quality pacemen amongst Mark Wood, Ben Stokes, Chris Rushworth, Ben Raine, Matt Salisbury and all-rounder James Weighall.
The attack was relentless and skipper Ian Cockbain was the only one to put up a decent score, as we were bundled out for just 186.

Although Ryan Higgins and Ferisco Adams also showed their class, Ben Stokes had a field day against our other bowlers as he smashed 168 off 210 balls to steer Durham to a big first innings lead.
Despite the carnage, Higgins (5/82) and Adams (3/63) could leave the field with their heads held high.

We've been in desperate situations before and turned games around rather miraculously.
Thanks to our deep batting, we were able to recover from a shambolic 90/5 to score 322 all out.
Gareth Roderick and Ferisco Adams starred in the fightback, which at least gave us a faint sniff of possible victory.
Rushworth was the key destroyer for the visitors with four wickets.

Durham required a smallish total of 164 to clinch the win and the pitch had certainly become more difficult, taking sharp turn.
Higgins and Adams made early breakthroughs with the new ball, but a determined knock from Cameron Steel and another belligerent innings from Ben Stokes saw their side home.
Sadly our spinners, Graeme van Buuren and Nathan Sowter failed to pose much of a threat.


Gloucestershire - 186 (I.Cockbain-67, C.Rushworth-3/27, M.Wood-3/38)

Durham - 345 (B.Stokes-168, R.Higgins-5/82, F.Adams-3/63)

Gloucestershire - 322 (G.Roderick-83, F.Adams-73, C.Rushworth-4/71)

Durham - 168/3 (B.Stokes-75no, C.Steel-72)

Win to Durham by 7 wickets.


Despite the loss, we are still top of the points table.

[GrahamB]

Brilliant! Was probably better for you not to get promoted last season after all - leaving everyone in your wake this year

Early days. Not counting my chickens yet.....

[DaveRobbo]

Brilliant! Was probably better for you not to get promoted last season after all - leaving everyone in your wake this year

[GrahamB]

FC Match 7 - Home v Durham

Just one change to the playing eleven, with Graeme van Buuren coming back in and James Bracey dropping back out.
This gives us two spinners for when the pitch starts to take turn later in the game.


Gloucestershire

M.Hammond
B.Howell
I.Cockbain (captain)
G.van Buuren
T.Hellawell
A.Hunt
G.Roderick (wk)
F.Adams
R.Higgins
N.Sowter
D.Payne


Durham

A.Lees
C.Steele
G.Clark
B.Stokes
M.Richardson (wk)
G.Harte
J.Weighell
B.Raine
M.Wood
C.Rushworth
M.Salisbury


We have won the toss and will bat first.

[GrahamB]

The pitch for the home game against Northamptonshire was completely devoid of any sign of life, and had the batsmen licking their lips.

We batted first and racked up a massive score, hoping that we might be able to obtain a handy first innings lead and then push on for a win.
Along the way, there were centuries to Miles Hammond and Ian Cockbain, plus half centuries to Benny Howell, Anthony Hunt and Ryan Higgins.
Vernon Philander regardless finished with the respectable figures of 4/124.

For the visitors, there were centuries to Richard Levi and Josh Cobb, plus half centuries to Kyle Coetzer and Adam Rossington, as they also went past 500.
David Payne was the best of the pacemen with 4/103, while spinner Nathan Sowter shouldered a heavy workload, finishing with 4/157.

There was no chance of anything but a draw now, but we declared with 45 minutes left to give our opening bowlers the chance of a cheap wicket.

The Northamptonshire openers played cautiously through to stumps and the draw was complete.


Gloucestershire - 552/8 declared (M.Hammond-169, I.Cockbain-106, A.Hunt-76no, B.Howell-56, R.Higgins-52, V.Philander-4/124)

Northamptonshire - 501 (J.Cobb-151, R.Levi-118, K.Coetzer-79, A.Rossington-54, D.Payne-4/103, N.Sowter-4/157)

Gloucestershire - 141/3 declared (T.Hellawell-63no)

Northamptonshire - 20/0

Game drawn.


We're still top of the FC table.

[bryce87]

Without a doubt you are getting promoted this year, your FC team is so well balanced. The bowlers are performing well and you bat very deep. Good to see Higgins let loose under cloud cover again! The T20s will be interesting!

[GrahamB]

FC Match 6 - Home v Northamptonshire

Ferisco Adams has returned from South African OD duties and replaces the now unavailable Abrar Kazi.
James Bracey gives Graeme van Buuren a rest.
Spin bowler Nathan Sowter replaces pace bowler Oliver Robinson.


Gloucestershire

M.Hammond
B.Howell
I.Cockbain (captain)
T.Hellawell
J.Bracey
A.Hunt
G.Roderick (wk)
F.Adams
R.Higgins
N.Sowter
D.Payne


Northamptonshire

R.Newton
L.Procter
K.Coetzer
A.Rossington (wk)
R.Lavi
J.Cobb
K.Ewing
V.Philander
B.Hutton
B.Muzarabani
B.Sanderson


We have won the toss and elected to bat first.

[GrahamB]

Second-placed Lancashire batted first, but were soon in trouble at 31/3.
It was due to opening batsman Rob Jones carrying his bat through the innings to finish on 92no, plus a half century from veteran Steve Croft and a handy knock from young all-rounder Sam Sutton, that Lancashire posted 242 all out.
David Payne was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with 4/23.

We were likewise in early trouble at 27/3, but thanks to a stronger batting line-up, we were able to build a handy first innings lead before declaring at stumps on Day 2.
Ian Cockbain's 68, plus another century from Tom Hellawell were the main reasons for our batting recovery.
We declared at that point because of the poor overhead conditions expected on Day 3 and felt that it was our best chance to bowl our opponents cheaply in their second innings.

In our wildest dreams we couldn't have believed that Lancashire would be dismissed so cheaply in their second innings, but they did.
None of the batsmen were able to resist for long in the face of the ball moving around, although Rob Jones was the seventh wicket to fall.
Ryan Higgins made a welcome return to form with 5/15!
A win by an innings and 8 runs.


Lancashire - 242 (R.Jones-92no, S.Croft-58, D.Payne-4/23)

Gloucestershire - 322/7 declared (T.Hellawell-116no, I.Cockbain-69)

Lancashire - 72 (R.Higgins-5/15)

Win to Gloucestershire by an innings and 8 runs.