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Fuller And Cockbain Are Second Day Stars

5 September 2012

James Fuller (pictured) and Ian Cockbain put Gloucestershire in a winning position on the second day of the LV=County Championship match with Northamptonshire at Bristol.

First Fuller completed career-best first class figures of 5-29 as the visitors were bowled out for 100, having begun the day on 73-7.

Then Cockbain fell one short of a deserved hundred as Gloucestershire cemented an advantage of 120 by scoring 286-6 in their second innings to lead by 406.

With two days still to go the home side look in great shape to earn a victory that would lift them off the bottom of the Championship Second Division.

At the close James Fuller told this website: "I'm really chiuffed to achieve my first five-wicket haul in first class cricket.

"It is a typical Bristol pitch where you have to bowl a pretty full length and you get a variation in bounce depending on how you hold the ball.

"In both first innings there was a collapse and I think that came about from the bowlers working out what areas to hit

"When Northants were 30 without loss we started talking about bowling a fuller length and immediately started to create chances.

"Having taken three wickets on the first day I knew five might be on today. But I didn't get to open the bowling so, while I wanted us to take wickets, I also hoped to get some more myself.

"Thankfully, I came on and got one with the first ball of the spell. Then their last man must have played and missed ten times against me before he was out. The lads were telling me to bowl at the stumps, but every time I did he hit it.

"Finally I got him and it was a great feeling.  I appreciated the reaction from the crowd as I walked off.

"The season overall has gone pretty well for me. There have been ups and downs, but I have tried to keep a level head when things haven't gone right.

"I feel like I have learned a lot and, hopefully if I keep working hard I will keep progressng.

"I am going home to New Zealand this winter to play some club cricket for four months and for the first time I will be doing so as a professional cricketer so expectations will be higher.

"Cricket over there is far less demanding than the schedule in England so I hope I can stay fit and keep developing my game."

For more details of the second day against Northants click on Cricket and then Match reports.

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