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Maiden first-class ton for Ollie Price earns Glos a draw at Headingley

28 June 2023

Gloucestershire all-rounder Ollie Price completed an excellent maiden first-team century during an otherwise low-key final day at Headingley as their LV= Insurance County Championship clash with Yorkshire finished in a draw.

Price moved from 97 not out overnight to reach three figures in the day’s first over as the visitors were bowled out for 464 in reply to a first-innings 550 for nine declared during the first half of the morning. 

Price was last man out for 113 off 162 balls to loanee left-arm spinner Dan Moriarty, who finished with five for 139 on Yorkshire debut. 

Yorkshire started their second innings with a lead of 86 and reached 200 for six in the 48th over when rain stopped play at 4.30pm, a lead of 286. No more play was possible.

During a weather-affected third day, 22-year-old all-rounder Ollie Price shared a seventh-wicket partnership of 162 with his older brother Tom. 

This season, the brothers have both posted their maiden first-team centuries in this competition after new ball seamer Tom did it in a draw at New Road in April.

There was always the chance of a potential final day contrived finish, but that didn’t eventuate and both sides - relegated from Division One last year - remain closer to the bottom of the Division Two table than they are to the top. 

Yorkshire claimed 13 points and have won once from seven outings, while Gloucestershire took 12 and remain winless after eight.

Price reached his milestone century with a leg-glanced boundary off the fifth ball of the day from George Hill’s seam.

Two balls later, Matt Taylor edged seamer Dom Leech to first slip as Gloucestershire slipped to 425 for nine.

Unfortunately for the smattering of spectators present on an overcast day at Headingley, this wasn’t a day’s play jam-packed with edge of your seat action. 

But even though the game was drifting, Gloucestershire bowled well after lunch and took some scalps with them back to the South West. Adam Lyth also posted a pleasing 55 either side of lunch for Yorkshire.

Given the position of Yorkshire in the Division Two table and no threat of relegation, it was somewhat of a surprise that no adventure was shown.

Wrapping up Gloucestershire’s innings, debutant Moriarty bowled a sweeping Price to secure his fifth wicket having joined Yorkshire from Surrey for the next month of Championship action.

Lyth and Fin Bean shared a 73-run opening partnership at the start of Yorkshire’s second innings, with Bean caught behind pushing forwards at Zafar Gohar’s left-arm spin three balls into the afternoon for 38 including a pulled six off Ollie Price’s off-spin.

Lyth pulled, reverse swept and drove on the way to 55 before edging Zaman Akhter’s seam to first slip, ending a 56-run second-wicket stand with captain Shan Masood.

The Pakistani international, however, was bowled reverse sweeping at compatriot Gohar shortly afterwards, leaving Yorkshire at 135 for three in the 31st over.

By this stage, the floodlights had been turned on at Headingley. For the game, it was very much lights out.

A 451-minute break for bad light and rain from just before 3pm accounted for the loss of seven overs before played resumed, allowing impressive Gohar to claim his third wicket when Dawid Malan was caught behind cutting for 20.

That was the first of two wickets in five balls as Ben Charlesworth’s first ball accounted for Jonny Tattersall caught at slip as Yorkshire fell to 161 for five in the 40th over.

Gohar was the pick of the bowlers with three for 63 from 18 overs, while Chris Dent struck with his third ball, getting Hill caught at slip with his left-arm medium pace. 

Dent celebrated in disbelief and patted Hill on the back as he departed, maybe owing to the fact he usually bowls part-time left-arm spin. It proved to be the fixture’s final ball.

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