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REPORT : Hankins and Bracey give glimpse of the future

27 September 2017

Two twenty year old batsmen - one of whom isn't yet a fully fledged professional - showed a balance between patience and progressive stroke play on the penultimate day of the season at the Brightside Ground.

George Hankins and James Bracey put together an unbroken third wicket stand of 170 in 45 overs to crush any hopes Derbyshire had of forcing the follow-on after Harry Podmore bowled Benny Howell for 36 in the third over of the day.

When rain forced the players off an hour after lunch, Gloucestershire had reached 224-2 in reply to Derbyshire's 460 all out, with Bracey 82 not out and Hankins unbeaten on 79, his highest score in the Championship this summer.

Listen to head coach Richard Dawson's reflections on the day here :

Gloucestershire began the third day knowing they realistically needed to bat for two sessions to avoid the follow-on, and with the first hour being Derbyshire's best chance of a crop of wickets on a docile Bristol pitch.

One arrived almost immediately, as Benny Howell chopped a bottom edge into his stumps in Harry Podmore's second over of the day. George Hankins then walked in to join James Bracey, who finishes his summer's cricket this week before heading back to complete his degree at Loughborough University. Their combined age is less than that of Durham's Paul Collingwood who has again made more than 1,000 Championship runs this season, and their diligence in this stand had all the hallmarks of the former England all rounder.

Their styles are different, and not just because Bracey is a left hander. On the evidence of his recent run in the team, Bracey's approach is more studious. He's prepared to repeatedly leave deliveries if necessary but when playing through the offside there is a stylish flourish to some of his shots. Hankins stands taller, and soon here he was playing some forcing strokes off the back foot square with the wicket.

Derbyshire's third wicket pair both made centuries on the second day, and 24 on, their bowlers found little to encourage them, Hankins disdainfully playing a short arm pull to mid wicket off Viljoen, and when veteran leg spinner Imran Tahir was introduced Hankins lifted him for six towards the Pavilion in his first over.

Tahir bowled an unchanged 11 over spell up to lunch which included the one genuine chance Derbyshire missed. Hankins, who had also played an excellent square drive to the point boundary off Will Davis, miscued a straighter effort to Slater at extra cover, only to see the ball spin into and out of the fielder's hands.

Both batsmen went on to complete their half centuries before the break, by which time they had added 118 in 31 overs. Hankins despatched a straight drive off Davis for his ninth four to bring up his fifty from only 57 balls, while Bracey, content to bat at his own pace, took nearly twice as many (110) striking seven boundaries.

At the resumption Derbyshire brought back opening bowlers Viljoen and Podmore for another burst  and Bracey almost edged Viljoen to Hughes at slip in the second over, only for the ball to fall short.

Hankins briefly got in a tangle against Podmore but when his spell ended, the Gloucestershire pair's progress became as comfortable as before, Bracey turning Davis to fine leg to bring up the 200. The 150 partnership soon followed, only for rain to halt a well compiled stand in mid-afternoon with Gloucestershire 224-2, 86 runs shy of the follow-on target and with two home grown youngsters now aiming to complete centuries on the season's final day.

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