Gidman Setback Mars Fine Opening Day
8 May 2013
An injury to Will Gidman took some of the gloss of an excellent opening day for Gloucestershire in the LV=County Championship match against Hampshire at Bristol.
The visitors were 165-8 when rain ended play prematurely at 3.26pm and would have been in worse trouble but for a battling innings of 74 not out from skipper Jimmy Adams.
At one stage Hampshire were 97-8. Gidman began the carnage with two early wickets, but had to go off with an ankle problem after taking 2-14 from nine overs.
It was the last thing Gloucestershire needed with their seam bowling resources already reduced by injuries to Ian Saxelby, James Fuller, Liam Norwell and Paul Muchall.
Craig Miles played his part in Hampshire's downfall with 3-44 from 14 overs, while off-spinner Jack Taylor had figures of 2-20 from 13.
Opener Adams, who had won the toss, battled on as wickets fell around him and finally found a reliable partner in Danny Briggs (25 not out) who helped add 68 precious runs before the rain came.
At the close Gloucestershire skipper Michael Klinger told this website: "Will went over on his ankle at the bowling crease. He will be getting some ice on it and hopefully there will be an improvement overnight.
"It doesn't look too serious, but if we can get the final two Hampshire wickets in the morning without using him it will be for the best.
"I wasn't surprised when Hampshire chose to bat, even though I would have probably bowled because of the overhead conditions. The pitch was hard and our bowlers did a good job in keeping a tight line and length early on.
"Perhaps we deviated a bit from that in the afternoon, but I don't think we did a lot wrong. You have to give their captain a lot of credit for the way he batted. His shot selection was excellent."
For more details of day one at Bristol click on Match Reports.
