Batting Collapse Hands Surrey Initiative
9 June 2014
Geraint Jones top-scored with just 28 as Gloucestershire were skittled for 112 after winning the toss on the opening day of the LV=County Championship match with Surrey at Bristol.
In stark contrast to the previous day's T20 blitz against Glamorgan, the batsmen could find no answer to the bowling skills of Matt Dunn (4-37), Jason Roy (3-9) and Chris Tremlett (2-24).
And when Surrey replied, openers Rory Burns (98 not out) and Zafar Ansari (84 not out) put the pitch into perspective with an unbroken opening stand of 186 against a bowling attack deprived of the injured James Fuller, David Payne and Craig Miles.
The visitors closed with a lead of 74 runs and Gloucestershire already face a massive task to avoid a second Championship defeat by them this season.
After Dan Housego fell for a duck to the fifth ball of the second over there was a clatter of wickets against a swinging ball until the scoreboard read 25-5.
Jones and Will Gidman (19) took the total to 57, but the another mini collapse then saw the hosts plunge to 67-8.
Matt Taylor at least ensured Gloucestershire reached three figures before being last man out for 24. But the entire innjngs occupied just 31.4 overs.
Will Gidman was his usual miserly self with the ball, sending down 13 overs for just 16 runs, but Burns and Ansari built on a steady start to see their partnership blossom.
For more details of day one against Surrey click on Cricket and then Match Reports.
