Saxelby Strikes But Essex On Top
29 April 2014
Ian Saxelby celebrated his first three LV=County Championship wickets since August 2012, but couldn’t prevent Essex taking control on the third day of the match at Bristol.
After bowling out Gloucestershire for 134, from an overnight 104-6, the visitors posted 305-8 in their first innings, thanks largely to a sixth-wicket stand of 218 between centurion Ben Foakes and James Foster.
The hosts had hit back strongly after their disappointing score and at one point had Essex in trouble at 71-5. But they ended the day with a lead of 171, well placed to declare early on the final morning.
Saxelby picked up the second wicket, that of Tom Westley, caught at first slip by Alex Gidman with the total on 18, and received the congratulations of all his team-mates after his lengthy battle against injury.
His first spell of six overs ended with figures of 1-16. Graeme McCarter claimed two early wickets, as did Matt Taylor, whose victims included England captain Alastair Cook for four.
But after looking back in the game, Gloucestershire had no answer to the initial patience and later flashing strokeplay of Essex skipper Foster and 21-year-old Foakes, who put together a double century partnership in 43 overs.
It was finally broken by Saxelby, who had Foster caught behind, attempting to pull a short ball, for 91. The seamer, who missed the whole of last season with injury, also removed David Masters with the last ball of the day for figures of 3-71.
By then Foakes had passed his previous career-best score of 120, playing with increasing confidence and unleashing an array of attacking shots. The England Lions player was unbeaten of 132 at stumps.
McCarter claimed 3-64 from 16 overs, while Saxelby was left with mixed feelings about the day when he spoke to this website at the end.
Ian said: "It was a pretty sweet moment taking my first wicket because it was 20 months since my last one in the Championship and I have worked so hard to get fit again.
"To get an edge to first slip was really satisfying. I have been taking wickets consistently for the second XI and it was good that the last fixture was against Surrey at the County Ground so I could get the feel of the run-ups here again.
"On the down side we are very disappointed with how we bowled as a team from having Essex 71-5 on a helpful pitch. We needed to make more inroads then and were unable to do so.
"Foakes has ended up with 132 and I bet he didn't score more than 30 off the front foot. We tended to bowl too short and once he and Foster got themselves in it became very difficult.
"I would expect Essex to declare first thing in the morning and we will then have to battle with the bat to get a draw out of the game."
For more details on day three at Bristol click on Cricket and then Match Reports.
