Runs remain precious at the College Ground
16 July 2015
A slow scoring second day at Cheltenham College ended with both teams still believing victory was possible. Gloucestershire took the seven remaining Leicestershire first innings wickets for the addition of 159 runs in the first two sessions as they were dismissed for 215, James Fuller taking 4-35.
Starting their second innings with a lead of three, Gloucestershire then extended it to 57 by the close for the loss of openers Tavare and Dent.
Listen to head coach Richard Dawson's thoughts on the day here :
For the second time at this year's Cheltenham Festival a story unfolded before play began, with skipper Ian Cockbain taking a blow while batting in the nets.
With the General Hospital across the road from the ground, it didn't take long to confirm that the skipper had broken his left wrist and would play no further part in the match. Furthermore, he was likely to be in plaster for five weeks. With Geraint Jones not in the side, it was Michael Klinger who took on the captaincy responsibilities.
The first hour's play came and went without a breakthrough, Leicestershire's overnight pair of Cosgrove and night watchman Naik content to play only at deliveries which demanded their attention.
Norwell and Miles had opened the attack, and 33 runs had added before Howell - part of a double change which also involved Fuller - drew an edge from Naik and Dent took a smart catch at second slip.
The barrel chested Cosgrove was playing much more conservatively than normal, but when the Leicestershire captain cut Fuller past gully he reached his half century off 94 balls with eight boundaries.
The pitch remained one where expansive batting was difficult, and as in the Gloucestershire first innings no partnership reached 50 without being broken.
In the case of Cosgrove and loanee Greg Smith, Kieran Noema-Barnett was to be Michael Klinger's trump card. The Kiwi had taken only three first class wickets since the end of April, but in a spell either side of lunch he removed Smith - caught and bowled for 20 - and then the vital wicket of Cosgrove, who survived two strong appeals for lbw before being caught behind by Roderick for 74.
Klinger was careful with his field placings throughout the afternoon session as he tried to balance the need for both wickets and economy.
Lewis Hill, already with a first class hundred to his name this season, gave Aadil Ali sensible support as they patiently added 38 on a diet entirely of seam bowling until Liam Norwell edged one wicket closer to 50 for the season when he clean bowled Hill for 18.
Only six overs remained until the second new ball when Jack Taylor had his first bowl of the day, and the stubborn Ali was almost stumped by Roderick in his first over. In the end, Klinger decided the new ball would not wait until after tea, and it brought the last three wickets either side of the interval.
In the last over before tea Miles removed Raine by taking a gentle caught and bowled chance, and in his first over after it Fuller clean bowled Ali for 40, made off 119 balls with only four boundaries. When Miles caught a steepler launched high towards the chapel off Fuller by McKay, Gloucestershire has squeezed out a first innings lead of three runs with 27 overs to bat on the day. James Fuller's figures of 4-35 were his best of the season.
With the match so evenly balanced, the last 90 minutes or so was important to both teams, and in the context of the match Gloucestershire got off to a flier with Chris Dent taking three boundaries off McKay in his opening spell.
Once the Leicestershire bowlers found their radar every run again became precious, and having been content to drop anchor, Tavare got one that kept low from Shreck in the 17th over and was bowled for eight.
The veteran had already passed 40 Championship wickets before this match, and added another when umpire Martin Saggers answered an lbw appeal in the affirmative from an around the wicket delivery to Chris Dent, who had made 23. Given Ian Cockbain's injury, Gloucestershire were only 35 ahead with three men already accounted for.
Klinger and Roderick then saw mattes out to the close at 54-2, 57 ahead but with Cockbain unable to bat a lot will rest on the overnight pair when play resumes on Friday morning.
