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Opening Day Tons Stun Essex

10 April 2013

Dan Housego (pictured) and Hamish Marshall hit unbeaten centuries as Gloucestershire enjoyed an excellent opening day of the LV=County Championship match with Essex at Chelmsford.

The pair put together an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 229 to help their side reach a healthy 300-3 after losing the toss.

Housego ended the day unbeaten on 124, with Marshall also still there on 120. Together they had helped secure three batting points, with power to add tomorrow.

It was the highest ever fourth-wicket partnership for Gloucestershire against Essex, beating the 153-run stand featuring Gilbert Jessop and Tom Langdon at Leyton way back in 1907.

Marshall was first to his hundred when he took two runs off Ravi Bopara in the 80th over to make it 248-3. The vice captain had faced 159 balls and hit 13 fours and a six.

Two overs later a single off Maurice Chambers took Housego to three figures. He had faced 224 deliveries and also struck 13 fours.

By then the stand was worth 185. At one point Gloucestershire were 71-3, with new skipper Michael Klinger, Chris Dent and Alex Gidman all back in the pavilion.

Dent was first to go in the seventh over with the total on 17. He was caught behind by James Foster off the experienced David Masters for seven.

Klinger had made 18 off 28 balls, having survived for 47 minutes, when he also went to a catch by Foster off Masters to make it 34-2.

Housego had gone in at the fall of Dent's wicket. He and Gidman add 37 before the latter departed leg before to Ravi Bopara for 12, but Essex were on top.

Marshall and Housego gradually turned fortunes around, despite some tight Essex bowling, with the wily Masters and Graham Napier particularly economical.

By the close Marshall had faced 204 balls and extended his boundary count to 15 fours and a six, while Housego had stood firm for 272 deliveries, hitting also struck 15 fours.

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