Tavare And Gidman Light Up Opening Day
14 July 2014
Will Tavare (pictured) and Will Gidman starred for Gloucestershire on the opening day of the Brewin Dolphin Cheltenham Cricket Festival at the College Ground.
The pair put on 175 in 45 overs for the fifth wicket as Gloucestershire reached 304-6 in the Division Two game against Derbyshire.
Tavare made 135, his third century of an excellent first season in county cricket, while Gidman was unbeaten on 88 at stumps.
Reflecting on his century, Tavare admitted: "That's probably my favourite one."
The 24-year-old Bristolian had to show great patience in the opening session, but played with increasing freedom in moving to a chanceless hundred, which he brought up in style with a six pulled over midwicket off slow left-armer David Wainwright.
"It was a nice delivery to get to bring up my hundred, although I didn't know what score I was on at the time," said Tavare. "It was a really pleasing hundred because batting wasn't easy out there.
"It was really hard batting conditions early on. It was quite a slow wicket, with a bit of movement in it for the bowlers, so to get through that phase and to bat most of the day was very pleasing.
"We had our little goals, which we worked through, and it was a very good day for us on a tough wicket. They bowled well throughout the day, especially Tom Taylor, so the partnership between me and Will (Gidman) was pretty crucial."
Tavare is Gloucestershire's leading scorer this season with 836 first-class runs at an average of 49.18, and he admits he is still pinching himself at how well things have gone.
He said: "I had a day at my old school (Bristol GS) yesterday, where there was a memorial match for an old teacher of mine, Mr Holman, who had a big influence on my life.
"I saw a few old friends there and it was sort of the first time I've really had people coming up to me and saying 'we've heard about how well you are doing'.
"I still can't believe it really, but obviously I'm enjoying every minute of it. It's great team to be part of and great to play at places like Cheltenham.
"I played a lot of age group cricket here, and my first trial for Gloucestershire was for the under-11s here, but that was the first time I had played on the square that is used for the festival."
For more details of day one against Derbyshire click on Cricket and then Match Reports.
