Dent And Herring Go Run Crazy Against Students
8 April 2014
Chris Dent and Cameron Herring lit up the second day of the match against Cardiff MCCU at Bristol with a brilliant unbroken stand of 254.
Both players achieved career-best first class scores. Dent (above right) smashed an unbeaten 203 off 219 balls, with 17 fours and 8 sixes, while Herring (left) was 114 not out when the innings was closed at 388-4.
It was a timely century for the 19-year-old wicketkeeper, who is set to play in the opening LV=County Championship fixture against Hampshire at the County Ground, starting on Sunday, because Gareth Roderick is under treatment for a fractured finger.
A delighted Chris Dent told this website: "It was great to play so well less than a week before the start of the new Championship season.
"I was a bit scratchy to start with because the pitch was a bit slow and I could feel myself getting frustrated. It was more of a mental battle than a technical one to get through that period.
"I got a bit nervous approaching my hundred because I knew that it would count in the century column of my statistics, but after that I was fine and I was pretty calm in the 190s.
"Cameron deserves huge credit and in a way more than me. Your first century is always memorable and he was under a bit of pressure to make a decent score, with the prospect of playing against Hampshire in our opening Championship games.
"He hit some amazing shots and made life much easier for me. We had to rebuild carefully to start with, but he looked in great form from ball one.
"It was the first time I have played against a University side when it has been a first class match, so I guess I picked the right game to fill my boots. Now the challenge will be to beat my new best score in a Championship fixture."
Watched by captain Michael Klinger, who has just arrived back from Australia, Will Tavare (37) shared an opening partnership of 76 with Dent. But Gloucesterhire then slipped to 83-3 as Alex Gidman and Hamish Marshall fell cheaply.
Will Gidman made 26 to steady things before he was dismissed with the total on 134. From then on Dent dominated, while Herring weighed in with 10 fours and 4 sixes in facing 123 balls.
Cardiff MCCU had made 89 for two in reply by the close, Matt Taylor and James Fuller taking a wicket each. The match ends tomorrow and admission to the third day’s play is again free.
It was a proud day for Gloucestershire batting coach Owen Dawkins, who has seen Dent, Herring and Tavare all progress through the club's Academy.
He told this website: "There was some fantastic batting. For Chris to get his maiden double century and Cameron his maiden hundred in the same innings was very special."
The first two matches played by MCCU teams each season are accorded first class status, which made the day even more special for Dent and Herring.
