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No Regrets From Skipper As Yorkshire Win

12 May 2012

Gloucestershire skipper Alex Gidman had no regrets about agreeing to a contrived target after Yorkshire's four-wicket LV=County Championship win at Bristol.

Set 400 for victory off a minimum of 111 overs, the visitors reached 402-6 with 20 balls to spare thanks to centuries from Phil Jaques (160) and Gary Ballance (121 not out).

Their fourth wicket stand of 203 proved crucial and there were only rare moments when Gloucestershire threatened to win the game after their opponents had begun the final day on 30-1.

But after the match Alex insisted it had been the right decision to contrive a target and that he would do so again in the same circumstances.

He told this website: "It was a thoroughly enjoyable day's cricket and our team will have learned a lot. I prefer to lose by giving ourselves a chance to win, than simply play out time for a draw.

"Yorkshire taught us a valuable lesson in the way they approached their run chase. We heard them discussing it in their dressing room and saying they would just take it in blocks of ten runs at a time.

"The pitch was slow, but we knew that when we agreed the target. One or two little things didn't go our way and on such fine lines are games like that decided."

Jon Batty will replace Richard Coughtrie behind the stumps for tomorrow's Clydesdale Bank 40 match against Leicestershire at Bristol.

The home side will revert to the squad on duty against Middlesex at Lord's in the last 40-over fixture, with Paul Muchall also involved. Play starts at 1.45pm.

For more details on the final day against Yorkshire click on Cricket then Match reports.

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