Essex v Gloucestershire Day 3 Match Report
13 April 2016
Battling half centuries from Gareth Roderick and Jack Taylor ensured Gloucestershire’s Championship clash with Essex will go into the final day with the hosts needing 59 runs for victory at Chelmsford.
Starting their second innings 123 behind, the visitors were bowled out for 215 before Essex reached 34 without loss at the close, chasing 93.
Glos owe the fact that they are still in the game to new skipper Roderick who made 58, his second half-century of the match and Taylor who scored a swashbuckling 74 from 76 balls.
Roderick came to the crease at 0-2 as Jamie Porter removed Cameron Bancroft and Ian Cockbain in his opening over with successive deliveries, both caught by wicket-keeper James Foster.
Things went from bad to worse when Chris Dent became a victim of Matt Dixon before the total had moved into double figures.
Hamish Marshall (14), Benny Howell (21) and Kieran Noema-Barnett (21) all got starts but were unable to go on as Glos fell to 108-6.
Roderick and Taylor frustrated the Essex attack with an approach of concentration by the former and free-hitting by the latter.
Roderick was caught at first slip by Alastair Cook attempting to cut a ball from Napier, an effort that spanned 140 balls of resistance and brought him six boundaries.
Following his departure after a stand worth 65 for the seventh wicket, Taylor cut loose to score 34 of the final 42 runs. The allrounder struck five 6’s, three off Graham Napier and two against Ravi Bopara to go with seven 4’s. He was last out when Jamie Porter held a fine catch at deep mid-off.
Porter finished with 3 for 53 while Napier and Bopara also picked up three wickets each.
Earlier in the day, after Essex had resumed their first innings on 287 for 6, Foster and Napier were both out in the 30s after sharing in a stand of 57.
Young seamer Josh Shaw, making his Championship debt, was the most successful visiting bowler with 4 for 118 from 34.5 overs while Liam Norwell picked up 3 for 81 from 34 overs.
Nick Browne and Cook batted with considerable ease while closing in on victory by making 39 without loss, Browne gathering five 4’s as he finished the day 26 not out.
