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Milestone day as Craig takes ten

9 June 2015

A first ten wicket haul of his career for Craig Miles has helped to set up a victory target of 252 against Division Two leaders Lancashire at the Bristol County Ground. Miles finished with 5-60 in Lancashire's second innings of 253, to add to his figures of 5-61 in the first innings.

Add in his run out of Ashwell Prince at a key point in the day, and it's one Miles is unlikely to forget in a hurry as his performance also took his number of first class victims to exactly 100.

Gloucestershire were left with 17 overs to bat before the close, when they had reached 26-1, with Will Tavare the man out without scoring.

More Miles : Listen to Craig on his day here...

The morning session was played in conditions more in tune with April than June, characterised by a stiff breeze and overcast skies. It was against that backdrop that Miles began his day with two wickets in his opening spell, getting an lbw decision against Paul Horton when the Lancashire opener didn't play a shot in the third over of the day.

At this stage Lancashire looked intent on occupying the crease and batting time without worrying about the scoring rate. Petersen almost dragged a full length ball from Matt Taylor onto his stumps, and he had made only six when he appeared to be caught in two minds by Miles and clipped a straight forward catch to Ian Cockbain at cover.

40-2 represented a game right in the balance. Another wicket would have tilted matters strongly towards Gloucestershire but Brown and Prince showed good concentration and shot selection. Both had the odd worrying moment - Prince surviving a big lbw appeal when Norwell changed his attack to around the wicket - but Lancashire reached lunch having advanced their score by 79 in 31 overs. Brown's unbeaten 42 had occupied the 43 overs since the innings began on Monday evening.

Gloucestershire's need to make further inroads into the Lancashire batting intensified after lunch as Prince looked increasingly threatening, in particular off the front foot. Neither batsman looked like getting out Miles got involved again.

Prince called Brown for a single off Norwell, but running towards the non strikers end he saw Miles - at mid on - improvise with a dive and a direct hit which found the South African short of the crease.

Clearly enthused, Miles started the next over from the Ashley Down Road end with a ball full and straight enough to snare skipper Croft lbw for 0. The lead was only 115 and a lot hinged on opener Brown, who after more than three and a half hours, reached 50 off 161 balls with nine fours. Finally, his patience was undone as he chased a wide one from Howell and substitute 'keeper Herring pouched a vital catch.

Not be outdone by Miles' exploits earlier, Howell then produced a one handed catch at cover to remove Faulkner for four. Conscious that the new ball was only 15 overs away, Lancashire's eighth wicket pair of Davies and Clark tried to be positive, Clark cracking three boundaries in quick succession. By tea, they had added exactly 50, and the Lancashire lead had stretched to a teasing 195.

With four wickets to take and four sessions of the match remaining, the second new ball was going to have a big impact on the result. Benny Howell's dismissal of Davies with the old one was therefore a bonus, the Lancashire 'keeper playing a ball off his legs straight to Will Tavare at mid wicket.

Clark - now joined by Bailey - continued to go for his shots, and the harder ball meant a greater reward. He clubbed seven boundaries in making 48 before slashing Norwell into the hands of Chris Dent at second slip. Miles - very much the man of the day - then wrapped up the tail with the wickets of Chapple for six and Jarvis without scoring. There were warm congratulations from all the team as he walked off.

After his century on Monday, Klinger had described the pitch as "a new ball wicket", one where the real dangers lay early on. Will Tavare would no doubt agree. Setting off in pursuit of 252 to win, he was bowled by Kyle Jarvis' second ball without a run on the board.

Klinger then joined Dent in watchful defence for the remaining hour to set up a fascinating final day.

Craig Miles is sponsored by Miles' Marauders

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