Taylor hits ton on second day at New Road
29 August 2017
A superb century from Jack Taylor helped Gloucestershire reach 258 all out, leaving Worcestershire going in to the third day 115 runs ahead.
Ravichandran Ashwin delivered a trio of wickets on his Worcestershire debut and Ed Barnard returned career-best bowling figures on day two of the Specsavers County Championship match with Gloucestershire at New Road.
Ashwin, who has joined Worcestershire for the conclusion of the promotion battle, bowled a lengthy spell and was rewarded by claiming the scalps of keeper Gareth Roderick, Kieran Noema-Barnett and Craig Miles.
An inspired afternoon spell of 9-4-12-3 by Barnard helped reduce Gloucestershire 93-5 in reply to Worcestershire’s 363 all out – still 121 short of making the home side have to bat again.
But Jack Taylor scored a century against Worcestershire for the fourth successive Championship match as Gloucestershire reached 258 all out.
Worcestershire then reached 10-0 from five overs – an overall lead of 115.
Paceman Josh Tongue had made the initial breakthrough when Chris Dent (22) was snapped up at leg slip by Joe Clarke. Then Barnard struck three times in the space of four overs.
He held onto a return catch off a leading edge from Will Tavare (9) and bowled both opener Cameron Bancroft (33) and George Hankins (4).
Ashwin claimed his first success as Roderick (9) attempted to work the ball through mid wicket and only succeeded in giving a return catch.
Taylor came in at 93-5 and was given solid support by Gloucestershire skipper Phil Mustard (29) in a partnership of 78 in 21 overs.
A fine piece of fielding by Brett D’Oliveira led to Mustard being run out by his direct hit from mid off after attempting a quick single off Ashwin.
Kieran Noema-Barnett (15) was lbw to Ashwin and Tom Scott (8) departed in the same manner to George Rhodes who bowled well for little tangible reward and had a strong leg before shout against Taylor on 85 turned down.
But Taylor went to his century off 140 balls with 12 fours before Ashwin had Miles (7) caught at short mid wicket for his third scalp and Liam Norwell (0) was bowled by Barnard.
Worcestershire lost their last three first innings wickets for three runs and were dismissed for 363 on a rain-shortened morning session.
Ben Cox (61) shouldered arms and was bowled by Norwell after striking ten fours in his impressive 91 ball knock.
Joe Leach made a quickfire 17 to ensure a fourth batting point before he attempted to pull Miles and was also bowled.
Norwell wrapped up the innings as Pat Brown (3) went for a drive and was caught behind.
Reaction
Jack Taylor, who scored a century against Worcestershire for the fourth successive Championship game, said: "It was nice to a hundred and get us back in the game.
"We struggled at the start but we are just over a hundred behind and, if we can get some early wickets tomorrow, we are still right in the game."
On his partnership of 78 with Phil Mustard, Taylor said: "We still thought it was a pretty decent deck and we didn't want to go into our shells and we wanted to put the pressure back on them."
On facing Ravichandran Ashwin, Taylor said: "It is nice to test yourselves against these sort of guys and face them. I was pretty happy with how I played.
On his record versus Worcestershire, Taylor said: "I just think it is one of those coincidences and obviously it was nice to get another hundred today."
Taylor scored his century on a used pitch and he admitted: "Turning up here, we thought the wicket was going to do a lot more than it has.
"It is pretty good, a few balls are starting to go up and down now. But we think it is still quite true.
"We've been in this position before where we've taken early wickets and bowled sides out. I think we did it to Worcestershire here last year.
"We will be looking to come out in the morning and take some wickets."
