Norwell strikes again to help put Gloucestershire on top
4 May 2015
Liam Norwell, who undermined Essex in their first innings, made a telling impact in their second to leave Gloucestershire on top in the County Championship Division Two match at Chelmsford.
After they had started their second innings trailing by 86 runs after the visitors had been bowled out for 245, Norwell struck three times in rapid succession before Essex closed on 91 for 4.
Those wickets came in an 11-ball spell costing just two runs. First, the right-arm paceman ended a promising stand when he had Nick Browne neatly snapped up at second slip by Chris Dent with the score on 42.
Then he forced Jaik Mickleburgh t play on for 31 before 17 year-old Dan Lawrence was done for pace and trapped lbw with the total on 52. Just before the arrears were cleared, Jesse Ryder drove against Matt Taylor to mid-off leaving James Foster and Kishen Velani to concentrate on defence before bad light curtailed play seven overs early.
The day’s early honours went to Essex after Gloucestershire had resumed at a healthy 77 without loss. Will Tavare was bowled by Jamie Porter for 32 without addition to the total and in his next over, the pace bowler had Gareth Roderick well caught by wicket-keeper Foster diving to his left.
In the end, the visitors were indebted to Dent and Peter Handscomb for their useful lead. Opener Dent made 57, containing eight boundaries before he was caught in the slips off the medium-paced Ryder, while Handscomb put together a well-contained 66. He reached his half-century by pulling Ryder over square leg for 6, a landmark reached in 77 balls and also containing seven fours. His innings was eventually cut short by the impressive Porter who ended with 4 for 59 from 20 overs.
Much is likely to rest on Foster if Essex are to make a real fight of it and he has underlined his determination to do so. Normally a batsman with aggressive instincts, the home skipper has so far defended resolutely in scoring just 13 from 72 deliveries.
Velani has proved just as stubborn while gathering three singles from 30 balls, the pair having added only 6 in eight overs.
Obviously Essex will have to display a more positive intent tomorrow but it will not be easy to score freely on a pitch which is still giving seamers assistance with it’s occasional awkward bounce which has accounted for so many batsmen in this match so far.
Essex paceman Jamie Porter who returned figures of 4 for 59 said: “I felt that I have bowled well without too much reward in the last couple of games but I felt that there were a few wickets around the corner so it was nice to cash in today.
“When we started the day today, I just thought that if I could get two or three wickets in one spell, it would open the game right up and that’s what happened.
We are in front now although only just but one big partnership and a useful stand elsewhere could get us a 200 lead and I reckon that might win it for us.”
Successful Gloucestershire pace bowler Liam Norwell who followed up his first innings tally of 4 for 32 with three of the four wickets to fall thus far in the Essex second innings stated: “It’s gone pretty well for me in this match.
“As a unit, our bowlers put a bigger focus on hitting our fuller and its a bit green on top which gives some assistance. Luckily enough, I managed to pick up some wickets but it was a real good team effort, we bowled good areas and I think we deserve to be in the position that we are.”
Liam Norwell is sponsored by Mr Michael Abbott
