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Cockbain Displays Battling Qualities Again

1 July 2014

Ian Cockbain faces another rearguard action to help Gloucestershire save the LV=County Championship match with Essex on the final day at Chelmsford.

The visitors closed the third day on 194-4 in their second innings, needing a further 123 runs to make their hosts bat again.

Cockbain, who defied Surrey with an heroic backs-to-the-wall innings at the Bristol County Ground recently, was unbeaten on 42, having shared in an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 66 with Will Gidman (26 not out).

By stumps Cockbain had faced 84 balls and hit 5 fours, while Gidman had faced 59 balls and struck two boundaries.

Skipper Alex Gidman and Hamish Marshall each batted for more than two hours to make 53 and 43 respectively as Gloucestershire again displayed character in the face of adversity.

Essex had extended their first innings score from an overnight 425-3 to 541 all out, which gave them a commanding lead of 317.

Ravi Bopara took his score to 147 before being bowled by Tom Smith, while James Foster made 54 and Ben Foakes 34. Jack Taylor finished with 4-125 from 30.3 overs, while Smith returned 3-101 from 26 overs.

At the close Jack Taylor said: "My rewards came at the end, although I didn't think for a while that they were going to come. It was hard work, but I enjoyed the challenge and it's nice to be back playing first-class cricket."

For more details of day three at Chelmsford click on Cricket and then Match Reports.

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