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Match Preview | Gloucestershire v Durham | LV= Insurance County Championship

17 May 2023

Gloucestershire return to Bristol this week to host table toppers Durham in the LV= Insurance County Championship Division Two.

T20 cricket returns to Bristol next week – get your tickets here!

Last time out

Shire’s frustrating start to the campaign continued against Derbyshire last time out when rain stopped a likely victory for the third time this season.

Glos posted their highest first innings total of the season at the Incora County Ground, scoring 383 in 101.3 overs thanks largely to the hugely impressive Ben Charlesworth, who hit a career-best 87 batting at number 3.

Charlesworth was one of two changes made to the Glos XI, along with Matt Taylor, who made a memorable comeback taking three first-innings wickets before also hitting a career-best with the bat.

Taylor smashed 57* from 64 balls to put Glos in control of the contest before a rained-off first day caught up with the visitors, who had to settle for an 11-point draw.

Team news

B Charlesworth and M Taylor keep their places in Dale Benkenstein’s squad for the match against Durham, as do Zafar Gohar and Miles Hammond, who both made fifties in the Glos total of 383 against Derbyshire.

Hammond’s half-ton was his third of the season, leaving him third in the leading Club run-scoring chart, topped by Marcus Harris. The Australian will keep his place at the top of the order with Chris Dent for his final Shire match before joining the Australian Ashes touring party.

Fast bowler Zaman Akhter and leg-spinner Ed Middleton could make their Gloucestershire debuts, while Josh Shaw returns to the squad and could make a first start of the season.

Shire’s leading two wicket-takers, Tom Price (15) and Ajeet Singh Dale (13), will lead the attack in the absence of Marchant de Lange, who is sidelined with a minor quad strain.

Jack Taylor will look to reclaim his place in the side, with vice-captain James Bracey and captain Graeme van Buuren aiming to get back amongst the runs against Durham.

Your 14-man Gloucestershire squad to face Durham:

Our opponents

Durham head into the tie after narrowly beating Yorkshire by one wicket in a low-scoring affair.

England bowler Matty Potts took eight wickets in the match at the Seat Unique Riverside, ably backed up by fellow seamer Ben Raine.

New signing Ollie Robinson has been in impressive form with bat and gloves since signing from Kent. Durham have his 360 runs at an average of 45 to thank for their first place in Division Two.

The visitors will, however, be without Potts’ fellow international Brydon Carse who misses the match through injury.

The Durham squad to face Gloucestershire:

Scott Borthwick*, Scott Bedingham, Graham Clark, Paul Coughlin, George Drissell, Bas de Leede, Michael Jones, Alex Lees, Stanley McAlindon, Ajaz Patel, Matthew Potts, Ben Raine, Ollie Robinson.

Gloucestershire vs Durham | LV= Insurance County Championship Division Two | Watch every ball on the Glos Cricket Match Centre HERE | 11:00am Start Time

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