Alex Signs Off With Ton Against Kent
25 September 2014
Alex Gidman marked his final appearance for Gloucestershire with century to help set up a winning position on the third day of the LV=County Championship match against Kent at Canterbury.
The skipper hit 140 as his side extended their second innings total from an overnight 208-2 to 432 all out, Will Tavare making 105 and Liam Norwell contributing 38 to a last-wicket stand of 76 with Tom Smith, who finished unbeaten on 42.
That set Kent an unlikely 448 to win and by the close they had struggled to 95-4, Craig Miles claiming two of the wickets.
It was Gidman's day from the moment he resumed his innings on an overnight 46 not out. He followed up his career-best 264 in the previous Championship match against Leicestershire at Bristol by reaching three figures of 136 balls, with 12 fours.
The century was the perfect way to end Alex's long career with Gloucestershire before taking up his new role with Worcestershire for next season.
At the close he told this website: "Until I reached the hundred I had been focussing solely on continuing to make the best end to the season I could, which is something I set my mind on following the Cheltenham Festival.
"But when I got to my century all the players came out onto the balcony to give me a cheer and I actually got quite emotional.
"It is a special way to mark my last game for Gloucestershire, but more importantly it has helped put us in a good position to win the game.
"We had a good final session and if we rock up tomorrow and perform properly we should be able to claim a victory."
Talking after his innings had ended, Tavare said: "I got a text message of congratulation from my uncle (Chris Tavare) after my hundred. Most of my family come from Kent and they've all been at the game at some point, which has been really great.
"To think Chris played something like 200 matches here almost scares me. So for me to come here and score a hundred on the ground where my dad played as a kid, my uncles played, and where my granddad used to cycle for over an hour just to come and watch, meant a great deal to me."
Will was able to add only four to his overnight score of 101 and Gloucestershire slipped from 346-4 to 356-9 before last man Norwell joined Smith.
Together the pair batted for more than an hour, Norwell making his runs off 59 balls, with 4 fours and a six, while Smith faced 55 deliveries and hit five boundaries.
For more details on day three at Canterbury click on Cricket and then Match Reports.
