Hamish Keeps Gloucestershire Hopes Alive
15 April 2014
Hamish Marshall dug in to keep Gloucestershire in the game on the third day on the LV=County Championship clash with Hampshire at Bristol.
It looked a losing cause for the hosts when, despite 72 from Alex Gidman, they were reduced to 216-8 in their second innings and led by only 98 runs.
But by then Marshall was well set and he received excellent support from David Payne in a fighting stand of 92 - a Gloucestershire record for the ninth wicket against Hampshire - that extended the total to 308-9 by the close.
Payne was out to what proved the last ball of the day for 44, while Marshall was unbeaten on 84.
Gloucestershire lead by 190 with one second innings wicket standing going into the final day.
At the close Hamish told this website: "Hopefully a bit of dew might get into the pitch overnight and spice it up a bit for our bowlers.
"If we can set Hampshire 200-plus who knows? James Fuller and David Payne did a great job with the bat, which helped me a lot and kept us in with a chance.
"I couldn't get my innings flowing and it was pretty military medium stuff in terms of scoring, which made it important that the guys played positively at the other end.
"I just had to keep giving them the strike. It was unfortunate for David that he got out right at the end, but he played some real cricket shots and can feel proud of his efforts."
Payne hit Michael Carberry for two reverse swept fours and a six over long-on off consecutive balls.
At the other end Marshall’s powers of concentration saw him take 162 balls to reach his half-century. By the close he had batted for ten minutes under five hours and faced 193 deliveries.
The start of the day had seen Hampshire add five to their overnight score before being bowled out for 422, which meant a lead of 118.
Matt Taylor took the final wicket to complete career-best figures of 5-75.
For more details on day three against Hampshire click on Cricket and then Match Reports.
