Match Report - Gloucestershire v Durham Day 3
22 May 2019
Gloucestershire have secured their first win of the Specsavers County Championship Division Two season by defeating Durham by six wickets at Emirates Riverside.
They required only 53 runs to win in the morning after the opening partnership between Chris Dent and Miles Hammond had knocked off over half of their target of 117 the previous evening. Although they lost three further wickets, Gloucestershire were able to ease their way to their maiden Championship victory of the term to move up into third in the table, eyeing a potential charge for promotion.
Head Coach Richard Dawson said, "It was a pleasing victory. I thought we bowled very well on Tuesday to build pressure on them and get us into a good position. it was a whole-team performance.”
VICTORRRYYYY!!!!🍾🍾🍾
— Gloucestershire Cricket🏏 (@Gloscricket) May 22, 2019
Gloucestershire defeat Durham by 6 wickets for their 1st win in the @CountyChamp 👏👏
Bracey (25*), Hankins (14) & Roderick (3*) chased down the remaining 35 runs to end the match just over an hour into the third day!#GoGlos 💛🖤 pic.twitter.com/74BicN8z0N
Beginning the day only one wicket down, Gloucestershire lost their night-watchman Josh Shaw without adding to their overnight total and after a solid knock, Miles Hammond edged a Salisbury delivery behind to Eckersley, finishing on 36.
Salisbury then bowled George Hankins for 14 just before James Bracey and Gareth Roderick were able to see out the comfortable win.
The bowlers' clinical edge with the ball and in the field was the difference between the two sides. Gloucestershire capitalised on familiar failings in the Durham batting ranks to surge through the order twice in two days. Ryan Higgins, David Payne, Matt Taylor and Shaw were all on form, posing problems with their accuracy and the ability to find movement off the slow track.
Graeme van Buuren played a pivotal role in Gloucestershire's victory when he ran out Cameron Bancroft on day two. The Aussie looked well set on 40 not out in his attempt to dig Durham out of trouble. However, Bancroft hesitated after his partner Liam Trevaskis called for a tight single, allowing Van Buuren to collect at cover before connecting with an accurate throw at the stumps.
“The period in the middle session on Tuesday when Cameron Bancroft was batting with Liam Trevaskis - they batted very well - but each bowler kept coming on and drying up the scoreboard. Then taking the chance for the Bancroft run out was the key moment," said Dawson.
Gloucestershire now prepare for a showdown against Lancashire at Cheltenham College, beginning on Monday.
