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Gloucestershire bowlers even proceedings

9 August 2020

Matt Lamb top-scored with 65 as Warwickshire were made to battle hard for first innings lead on the second day of the Bob Willis Trophy match with Gloucestershire at the Bristol County Ground. 

Going in with his side 55 for three in reply to 210, Lamb faced 193 balls and hit 12 fours to help the visitors to 230 for eight at the close of a day of attritional cricket on a slow pitch that made anything but slow scoring difficult. 

The start of play had seen Oliver Hannon-Dalby complete career-best figures of six for 33 from 23.3 overs by taking the two remaining Gloucestershire wickets after they resumed their first innings on 191 for eight. 

Tom Smith ensured the home side of a batting point with 24 not out, but Josh Shaw and Matt Taylor fell to the tall seamer, again bowling accurately from the Ashley Down Road End. It was Hannon-Dalby’s first six-wicket haul in a first class innings. 

Warwickshire’s reply began poorly when Rob Yates appeared to edge a low catch to wicketkeeper Gareth Roderick in the opening over from Ryan Higgins, but in fact was adjudged leg-before for a duck. 

It was 15 for two when Sam Hain, on eight, fell lbw playing across a straight ball from Taylor and, with the skies overcast in contrast to the first day, Gloucestershire’s seamers scented a big opportunity. 

They struck again in the final over before lunch when Ian Bell edged George Scott to George Hankins at second slip and fell for 13 to make the score 55 for three at the interval. 

It was Scott’s first wicket for Gloucestershire on his debut following a move from Middlesex last autumn and a major blow to the visitors’ hopes. 

Warwickshire skipper Will Rhodes looked solid in progressing to 41 in the afternoon session as the sun began to shine, but he was undone when opposite number Chris Dent introduced Ben Charlesworth to the attack. 

The 19-year-old, who bats left-handed, but bowls right-arm seam, yorked Rhodes with his fourth ball to end an innings that had spanned 107 deliveries and featured 6 fours. 

Patience was required with bat and ball. Lamb employed sensible shot selection to be unbeaten on 43 at tea, which was taken at 133 for four, with Michael Burgess on 14. Gloucestershire needed an early breakthrough in the final session. Instead, a flurry of boundaries from the fourth-wicket pair advanced the Warwickshire total as they looked to adopt a more positive approach. 

They had added 69 in 20 overs when Burgess, who was just starting to blossom, was bowled off an inside edge by Scott (two for 34), who impressed from the Pavilion End. 

A further 28 runs had been added when Lamb edged Higgins (two for 47) to first slip where Dent took a good low catch. By then Warwickshire were only 20 runs behind. 

Tim Bresnan was looking to follow up a century on debut for the visitors and the experienced former Yorkshire all-rounder looked more comfortable than most on the testing pitch. 

There was just enough swing to encourage the Gloucestershire bowlers as their opponents secured a batting point and closed in on their total. 

Bresnan was unbeaten on 34 at stumps, having faced 75 balls and hit 4 fours. But Taylor (three for 48) struck twice in the penultimate over of the day, clean bowling Alex Thomson, playing no shot, for 15 and Henry Brookes for a duck as Gloucestershire ended on a high. 

Gloucestershire debutant George Scott said: "I came here because I wanted to work with Gloucestershire's coaches and improve my game as Ryan Higgins has done since moving from Middlesex.

"If I can do as well as he has, I'll be more than happy. Getting the scalp of Ian Bell as my first wicket for Gloucestershire was amazing as I grew up watching him and it is even a bit surreal just to play against him.

"We knew if we kept patient rewards would come for the bowlers and it happened for Matty Taylor at the end of the day. Now we need a couple more wickets quickly in the morning and, if we get them, we will be right in the game,"

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