News

Marshall Defiance Earns Battling Draw

1 June 2013

Hamish Marshall produced a masterclass in defensive batting to lead Gloucestershire to a nerve-tingling draw on the final day of the LV=County Championship match with Lancashire at Liverpool.

Last man Liam Norwell had to survive the final ball of the game before his side closed on 173-9, having been set an unlikely 359 to win.

Amid almost unbearable tension Norwell played the delivery from Andrea Agathangelou safely to gully and Gloucestershire claimed seven points from the fixture as a result of a courageous last day batting effort.

It was led by Marshall, who faced 206 balls in making a meticulous 44, remaining at the crease for three hours and 36 minutes after his team had been reduced to 60-3.

Alex Gidman followed up his first innings century with a valuable 46, but Gloucestershire still looked to be on course for defeat when Graeme McCarter went in at 163-7.

That became 170-8 when Marshall's long vigil ended. There were still 6.2 overs remaining and out walked the injured Ed Young, again batting low in the order because of a painful wrist problem.

He survived until the end, but having done his bit by facing 37 balls for a single, McCarter was caught at backward short-leg off the penaltimate delivery of the game.

It was Championship cricket at its most riveting in the closing stages with spinner Simon Kerrigan operating with all his fielders in catching positions around the bat.

The hosts couldn't force the final breakthrough and Gloucestershire had come through the toughest of examinations under pressure.

Earlier in the day they had bowled out Lancashire for 270, McCarter finishing with 4-95 and Norwell 3-80.

After the game Gloucestershire skipper Michael Klinger told this website: "It feels great to have come out of that sort of pressure situation with a draw and the lads are pretty happy with their efforts.

"Hamish stuck it out really well to give us a chance and the rest of the middle and late order made some important contributions.

"It will prove a good experience for the likes of Graeme McCarter and Liam Norwell, who will never be more nervous about facing one ball.

"Lancashire managed to squeeze an extra over in at the death by getting through one really quickly, which had a few expletives coming out of my mouth.

"That is something we can learn from, but overall I'm delighted with the way we went about avoiding defeat.

"At the start of our second innings we did think about going for the target. But Lancashire bowled really well for the first 25 overs and after that it became a matter of survival.

"Ed Young deserves credit for batting in both innings for us with his painful wrist. It made a difference of 20 or 30 runs in the first innings, which proved vital."

For more details of a thrilling last day at Liverpool click on Match Reports

• Previous
• Next