Payne Leads Fightback On Opening Day
29 June 2014
David Payne hit an unbeaten 48 as Gloucestershire's lower order staged a determined fightback on the opening day of the LV=County Championship match with Essex at Chelmsford.
After being put in when Alex Gidman lost the toss, the visitors plunged into deep trouble at 56-6 as David Masters and Reece Topley made excellent use of the new ball.
At that stage a batting point looked out of the question. But it was eventually secured thanks to Payne, trialist wicketkeeper Adam Rouse and the Taylor brothers.
Gloucestershire were eventually bowled out for 224 following a last-wicket stand of 66 between Payne and Matt Taylor, who contributed 26.
Payne faced 57 balls and hit 4 fours and 2 sixes. Rouse had begun the rearguard action with 28 to follow up his match-winning NatWest T20 Blast innings against Kent at Bristol.
Jack Taylor hit 40 off 35 balls, with seven boundaries, before falling to Masters, who finished with 4-67 from 19 overs. Topley did even better with 5-53 from 16 overs.
By the close of a rain-interrrupted day, Essex had replied with 75-0, Tom Westley unbeaten on 46 and Nick Browne on 28.
Gloucestershire director of cricket John Bracewell believes his side could have done better in the closing stages.
He said: "It was a difficult start for us and a vital toss to win given the greenness of the wicket and I think that 220-odd was a reasonable score given the position we found ourselves in.
"But we should have bowled better."
For more details of day one at Chelmsford click on Cricket and then Match Reports.
