Michael's Ton Provides Ray Of Hope
11 June 2014
Michael Klinger led from the front as Gloucestershire’s batsmen made a fight of it on the third day of the LV=County Championship match with Surrey at Bristol.
The skipper hit 120 off 229 balls, with 15 fours and 2 sixes, as his side battled to avoid defeat in the face of a massive 514-run first innings deficit.
Surrey declared on their overnight first innings score of 626-6, leaving the hosts with six sessions to bat to escape with a draw and claim some points from the fixture.
By the close Gloucestershire had negotiated three of those sessions, compiling 274-5, with Ian Cockbain contributing 48 not out, while Dan Housego and Hamish Marshall both made 27.
That still leaves 240 to make on the final day to avoid an innings defeat. But director of cricket John Bracewell was pleased to see a spirited batting performance.
He told this website: “The players have shown some character today. The trouble is we need to start doing that from the beginning of games, rather than we are fighting to save them.
“It was clear from the reaction of the batsmen on Monday that we made the right decision to bat first and they simply did not perform well enough.
“Today it was a different story. Ian Cockbain was getting into positions to play his normal aggressive game and then adjusting to the situation and playing defensively.
“That is the right way to go about in the position we find ourselves, In the first innings he set up to play defensively and got out to a half-volley.
“He now needs to go out and make a big score tomorrow. We are two batsmen light without the injured Chris Dent and Will Tavare, which makes it vital that our next best player, which is Ian, comes in and does the required job.”
Michael Klinger said: "Surrey will come hard at us again in the morning, but I certainly feel we have what it takes to draw the game from here.
"The pitch is very good. I wish my hundred had come in the first innings, rather than when we were chasing the game. but with more hard work by the remaining batsmen we definitely have a chance."
For more details of day three against Surrey click on Cricket and then Match Reports.
