Shaw and Lawrence star as youth shines at Cheltenham
14 July 2016
Four wickets for Josh Shaw were not enough to secure Gloucestershire a first innings advantage against Essex at the Brewin Dolphin Cheltenham Festival, as a polished century by Daniel Lawrence helped to give the team at the top of Division 2 a lead of 78 runs at the close of the second day.
Lawrence, who was 19 on Tuesday, batted for just over four hours in making 127, and was given valuable support by his captain Ryan ten Doeschate (52) after three wickets in Shaw's first spell had reduced Essex to 80-4.
By stumps, they had recovered to 333 all out, with the last two wickets falling to Craig Miles after the second new ball was taken shortly before the close.
Listen to Josh Shaw (4-72) at the close of play here ::
**
Gloucestershire began the day on 218-8, and with Miles and Norwell aware that they had 12 overs batting before the second new ball was due they looked to play positively from the outset, Miles soon adding the five runs he needed to complete his second half century in the Championship this summer.
Norwell hoisted the first six of the match off left arm spinner Zaidi to bring up Gloucestershire's second batting point before Miles was bowled by Porter for 58, an innings which included eight boundaries.
When Norwell edged the same bowler to Browne at first slip for a useful 31, Gloucestershire were all out for 255, with all ten wickets falling to bowlers from the Chapel End.
An hour and a quarter remained until lunch, a phase of play where the Gloucestershire seamers, aided by some smart catching, put Essex firmly on the back foot.
Norwell and Payne shared the new ball and it was the latter - from the College Lawn End - who provided the initial breakthrough, Dent taking the first of two low chances at second slip to remove Nick Browne for 14.
Opening partner Mickelburgh had taken 22 balls to get off the mark but at the other end Westley was soon into his stride, twice straight driving Payne to the boundary before square cutting with equal efficiency.
It was to be Josh Shaw's burst either side of lunch that raised Gloucestershire's hopes of a first innings lead. Westley was adjudged lbw for 24 from the last ball of his first over, and from the first ball of the next Dent again showed secure hands as Bopara edged into the slips. Lawrence survived the hat trick delivery, and went on to prove difficult to dislodge.
The teenager who learned his cricket at Chingford CC had opened the batting for England at under 19 level, and his patience was soon evident in his shot selection as Essex were watchful in the early overs after lunch until the persistent Shaw reduced the visitors to 80-4, opener Mickelburgh (34) clipping a ball straight to a tumbling Jack Taylor at mid wicket.
Head coach Richard Dawson had made the point pre-match that Essex's batting order was deep, and his analysis was to be borne out as skipper ten Doeschate joined Lawrence in the day's most significant stand.
It was an absorbing spell, with the tall right handed Lawrence playing with confidence all round the wicket, and his captain scoring steadily off the back foot in a manner reminiscent of former Gloucestershire favourite Chris Taylor.
Both completed their half centuries before tea, Lawrence with eight boundaries and ten Doeschate seven, the last of which also brought up the hundred partnership, so it was Gloucestershire who were relieved when Shaw's second burst brought a welcome breakthrough before the interval, ten Doeschate being adjudged lbw for 52. It left Essex to take tea at 192-5, 63 behind but with Lawrence 57 not out.
Unflustered by the break - or the loss of Ashar Zaidi to a nonchalant catch by Noema-Barnett off Norwell for 21 - Lawrence and wicket keeper James Foster erased the remaining deficit to nudge Essex ahead with four wickets in hand.
They added 50 in nine overs, Lawrence completing a chanceless hundred off 162 balls with fourteen fours. That was the cue for both to accelerate, Lawrence finally perishing on 127 by giving Miles a simple catch at square leg off the nagging Noema-Barnett.
Napier fell to the same bowler for a duck - Graeme van Burren with a fine catch - and with only Porter and Quinn to come, Foster chanced his arm too, taking 16 off Miles' first over with the second new ball before Marshall perfectly judged a running catch at point to remove the Essex 'keeper for 47.
Quinn's dismissal in the penultimate over of the day - again to Miles - meant Gloucestershire had secured maximum bowling points is bowling Essex out for 333. Their first innings deficit is 78, and getting into the black on Friday morning will be their first target.
