Gloucestershire win in emphatic style against Worcestershire
1 June 2016
Gloucestershire's enterprising approach was rewarded on the final afternoon as century-makers Michael Klinger and Jack Taylor powered them to a five wicket win over Worcestershire in the Specsavers County Championship clash at New Road. The visitors captain Gareth Roderick had thrown open a game heading towards stalemate on the third day by declaring his side's first innings 75 runs in arrears. Gloucestershire then proceeded to bowl out Worcestershire for 239 and were left a target of 315 in 70 overs which they reached with more than 10 overs to spare.
With the pitch staying true and a short off side boundary for the right-handers to target, a see-saw game finally tipped in Gloucestershire's favour as they climbed to third spot in the table. Klinger, a former Worcestershire player and Taylor came together in the first over after tea at 141-5 and proceeded to flay the home attack. Taylor reached a brilliant 100 off 71 balls with five sixes and 11 fours and finished unbeaten on 107 .Klinger completed his ton with the match-winning six off Brett D'Oliveira and he faced 141 balls and hit two sixes and 11 fours. Their stand was worth an unbroken 179 in just 24 overs.
Klinger and Taylor's main concern was the light and play was halted briefly but the players returned and the sixth wicket pair completed their task. Gloucestershire set out in pursuit of their target immediately after lunch and Worcestershire vice-captain Joe Leach had made the first breakthrough when Chris Dent (5) edged to first slip. Fellow opener Gareth Roderick (30) fell to a superb full length catch by Alexei Kervezee at mid-off off Ed Barnard after he had ran back 20 yards from extra cover. First innings century-maker Graeme van Buuren again looked in good touch before he was undone by a ball of extra bounce from Charlie Morris and was caught behind for 42.
Then in the final over before tea, Hamish Marshall (10) took on occasional spinner Kervezee and was caught at mid on to leave Gloucestershire on 139-4 at the interval. Worcestershire's victory hopes increased in the first over after tea when George Hankins (1) aimed a heave across the line at Leach and was lbw. But Taylor decided counter-attacking was the best option and he reached his half century off 38 balls with four sixes and five fours. He also dominated a century stand with Klinger which came up in just 17 overs. Heavy morning rain delayed the start but play was able to get underway at 11.30 with only the loss of eight overs. Worcestershire resumed on 151-5 in their second innings - a lead of 226 - with the game having been opened up for the possibility of a positive result after Gloucestershire had declared 75 runs behind.
Ross Whiteley scored a typically robust 53 ball half century but wickets fell at regular intervals at the other end to Liam Norwell and Craig Miles. Ben Cox (18) was caught behind off Norwell and then Joe Leach (4) perished at deep mid wicket off Miles. Miles struck twice in an over as Ed Barnard (7) was caught at cover off Miles before a superb legside catch by keeper Roderick accounted for Jack Shantry (0). Whiteley was last out for a season equalling best 71 from 88 balls with four sixes and seven fours. Miles finished with 5-54 - his 10th five wicket haul in first class cricket - and Norwell 4-70.
GLOUCESTERSHIRE BATSMAN AND CENTURY-MAKER JACK TAYLOR:
"It was fantastic to get over the line. It is a pretty special feeling. "We were a bit wary of the light affecting things so we said get ourselves in and then take strong options and go from there really. "As we got towards the end, we tried to up the tempo and make use of the short boundary and it paid off. "It was a great innings by Michael Klinger. He has been great for us over the past few years and he is a fantastic player. "Everyone chipped in. It was a great team effort."
WORCESTERSHIRE DIRECTOR OF CRICKET STEVE RHODES:
Holding them altogether. "Without his stability, they wouldn't have been able to get that score. Without Jack Taylor's aggression, they wouldn't have been able to get that score. "But they did get that score and sometimes you've got to take your hat off to the opposition. "There were things we could have done better today but Gloucs, like down at Bristol, I think they are a good outfit, a side not prepared to roll down and die, and they thoroughly deserved today's victory after the way they played in that chase. "We are a young side who will learn a lot from days like this."
