Hero Cockbain Leads The Great Escape
12 June 2014
Ian Cockbain was the hero as Gloucestershire produced an extraordinary backs-to-the-wall batting display to salvage a draw from the LV=County Championship match with Surrey at Bristol.
Having conceded a massive first innings lead of 514, the hosts began the final day on 274-5, needing a further 240 to avoid an innings defeat.
But led by the immovable Cockbain, who hit an unbeaten 151, batting for more than eight hours, and nightwatchman Tom Smith, who contributed 80 to a sixth-wicket stand of 177, Gloucestershire comfortably avoided defeat, closing on 506-6.
Surrey were left to reflect on only one wicket in the day’s play, that of Smith, who like Cockbain recorded a career-best score.
The pair defied the visiting attack for 71 overs. It was 3.30pm before Smith, who has walked to the crease at 5.40pm the previous day, was caught in the slips off the third new ball.
After that Will Gidman dug in with the same tenacity as his colleagues to score 46 not out, adding a further 72 with Cockbain, who faced 421 balls and hit 17 fours in the longest innings played by anyone in the Championship this season.
Afterwards a clearly shattered, but happy Ian told this website: "Without a shadow of a doubt this is the high point of my career so far.
"To show I can perform in Championship cricket as well as the one-day formats was important to me and I'm delighted to have grabbed the opportunity provided by a couple of unfortunate injuries to team-mates.
"Tom Smith and I kept each other going, ticking off each little goal and we reached it. He did a tremendous job as nightwatchman and is a genuine all-rounder.
"The pitch was pretty placed and at the start of the day we definitely felt a draw was possible. But it was a great team effort to bat for two days and now it feels more like a win."
Gloucestershire, who would have taken no points from the game had they lost, ended up with five to stay fourth in the Championship Second Division, just four points behind third-placed Essex.
For more details on the final day against Surrey click on Cricket and then Match Reports.
