Concentration tested by Kent total
10 June 2018
One of cricket's great debates when a side makes a big first innings score is how you balance runs on the scoreboard against the time needed to take the necessary wickets for victory.
It remains to be seen if Kent captain Joe Denly's judgement was correct at the Brightside Ground, as his side banked a total of 582-9 before declaring in the first over after tea on the second day.
It left Gloucestershire with two days and 29 overs to realistically bat for a draw, but at the close of Sunday's play Gloucestershire were 44-4 with plenty to do just to avoid the follow-on.
Watch the thoughts of all rounder Graeme van Buuren at stumps here :
Graeme van Buuren took three wickets today against @kentcricket and is not out overnight. Here are his close of play thoughts. pic.twitter.com/9mZfttvH4Q
— Gloucestershire CCC (@Gloscricket) June 10, 2018
Gloucestershire began the morning looking for a clatter of wickets that would keep Kent within range on first innings, but the first hour saw the overnight pair of skipper Denly and veteran all rounder Stevens not only look comfortable but also put the scoring rate into overdrive straight away.
Despite overcast conditions a flurry of boundaries in the first five overs appeared to show the pitch remained as straight forward to bat on as the first day, five of them to Denly who brought up his half century by working Higgins past wide mid on.
Kent advanced their score to 366-4 by the time possible bonus points elapsed, Stevens offering his captain good support and bringing up the century partnership and his own fifty - including ten fours - with a rare drive past mid off. Both batsmen had scored heavily square of the wicket, an indication of the lack of pace in the pitch.
As on the first day, Gloucestershire captain Chris Dent turned to six different bowlers before lunch including George Drissell but there was little sign of turn for the young off spinner or Graeme van Buuren, the latter being struck for a straight six by Stevens over long off towards the pavilion.
Denly was one of Kent's centurions in the Royal London Cup win at Beckenham seven days earlier, and here he looked in similarly good touch, particulary on the off side. He and Stevens had added 161 in 37 overs when after Denly reached his century, from 174 balls with 13 fours, Stevens was lbw to Kieran Noema-Barnett for 89 shortly before lunch.
Having advanced the score by more than 150 runs in the morning session, one wondered if Kent were pushing for an early afternoon declaration, but it soon became evident that they only wanted to bat once, despite the talk around the ground at lunch that a total of 500 might be the tipping point.
Wicketkeeper Adam Rouse - who played for Gloucestershire in 2014 - forced Miles off the back foot for four when played resumed and while he soon lost his captain - caught behind by Roderick off the same bowler for 107 - Harry Podmore proved his seasonal batting average of 73 was no fluke.
Both, as with others before them, were happy to play the ball off their legs as well as waiting for anything they could cut or force off the back foot square of the wicket. The pair maintained the previously healthy scoring rate, adding a further fifty runs in 14 overs with Podmore powerfully lofting Drissell for six towards the club offices.
A third new ball wasn't due until after tea, and at one stage Gloucestershire had six fielders on the boundary as first Rouse (75 balls) and Podmore (79 balls) both posted their first half centuries of the season before being dismissed by Graeme van Buuren, Podmore's delivery turning sharply before hitting the off stump.
The declaration finally came four balls into the post tea session, Matt Henry having struck the first two for six and the third for four. A top edge to Roderick gave Miles his fourth wicket, and left Gloucestershire with almost two hours to bat at the end of five sessions in the field.
Faced with a total of 582-9 against his side, Gloucestershire head coach Richard Dawson would have been looking for a secure start from Benny Howell and skipper Chris Dent. Darren Stevens, however, had other ideas, bowling Howell off an inside edge and Dent with one that flicked the top of off stump after the Gloucestershire captain misjudged the line.
At the other end Matt Henry removed Roderick, caught smartly in the gully by Riley, and Crawley snapped up another edge to send back Bracey, who Gloucestershire would have wanted to bat long into Monday's play, which Gloucestershire will start on 44-4.
