Rouse Runs Not Enough At Chelmsford
2 July 2014
Another impressive contribution from Adam Rouse was not enough to save Gloucestershire from a ten-wicket defeat by Essex on the final day of the LV=County Championship match at Chelmsford.
The trialist wicketkeeper was last man out for a career-best 49 as his side battled their way to 325 in their second innings from an overnight position of 194-4.
Rouse batted for eight minutes short of three hours, facing 142 balls and hitting just 3 fours. He shared a last-wicket stand of 52 with Matt Taylor, who finished with a career-best 32 not out, having survived 79 deliveries.
Will Gidman (40) and Tom Smith (16) played their part in ensuring Gloucestershire avoided an innings defeat.
But Essex were left with only nine runs needed for victory and openers Nick Browne and Tom Westley knocked them off in nine deliveries, the match finishing at 3.15pm.
The home side took 24 points to Gloucestershire's two.
At the end of the game stand-in skipper Alex Gidman told this website: "While it was an important toss to lose, that didn't tell the whole story because it proved to be a good cricket wicket.
"The fact is that we are not getting enough first innings runs. Again we have ended up fighting to save a game when it would be nice to control one from the start.
"We have had a good talk in the dressing room and we know we have to improve as a group. It is not a case of the batsmen being fault more than the bowlers or vice verse.
"All the players have to work hard if we are to get back to where we want to be in Championship cricket. I know they are prepared to do that.
"Adam Rouse is proving himself a hungry young cricketer keen to impress. He wants to do well to enhance his own career and by doing so will obviously help us, so it is a win-win situation."
Gloucestershire return to action on Friday evening with a NatWest T20 Blast game against Sussex at the Bristol County Ground.
For more details on the final day at Chelmsford click on Cricket and then Match Reports.
