Late strikes rock County

Date: Friday 08 May 2009

Close of Day Three: Gloucs 393 (Gidman 159, Snell 85, Crowe 3-84, Harris 3-85) lead Leics 133 (New 54, Ireland 6-31) and 243-6 (Boyce 85, Dippenaar 52, New 41, Taylor 38*) by 17 runs.

Leicestershire have made a better fist of their second innings but have a massive task ahead of them to save the Championship game against Gloucestershire at Bristol.

The team closed on 243-6 after half-centuries from Matthew Boyce and Boeta Dippenaar, but still trail their hosts by 17 runs going into the final day after a crucial double blow was struck by Jon Lewis just before stumps.

The former England man dismissed both skipper Paul Nixon and Wayne White to end proceedings with 3-27 from 16.3 probing overs, and left County in trouble with just four second-innings wickets in hand.

Although the in-form James Taylor was unbeaten on 34 at stumps, the home side chipped away all day and it will take a huge effort if County are to rescue something from the encounter.

Despite the tricky position, County will be happier with their batting second time around.

Firstly, the team needed to end the home side’s knock, which they managed to do for the addition of 32 runs as Gloucs ended on 393.

AJ Harris claimed two wickets to end with 3-85, while Iain O’Brien also got in on the act to finish with a two-for.

O’Brien was first to strike to end a stubborn stand of 89 between keeper Steve Snell and Tom Stayt, with the latter being caught by Tom New at slip for 36.

Harris wrapped up the innings by having Snell caught by O’Brien for a 193-ball 85, and then dismissed Lewis courtesy of a fourth innings catch for Taylor.

Gloucestershire, despite missing out on a fifth batting point, still had a massive 260-run first-innings lead.

County, like the first innings, needed a good start and Boyce and Tom New delivered again. The duo put on an excellent 127 for the first wicket to add to their 83-run opening stand in the first, with Boyce the aggressor this time around.

New made 41 from 83 balls before Steve Kirby struck an important blow by having the left-hander caught behind by Snell.

The keeper was in the thick of the action throughout the day, and claimed two more dismissals as Leics stuttered slightly.

Boyce was looking good for a second first-class century, but he fell to Snell’s second catch as Lewis took his wicket for an excellent 85.

The knock included 12 fours from 163 deliveries, and it was unfortunate timing for both Boyce and County that the wicket fell just prior to tea.

HD Ackerman settled in alongside Boeta Dippenaar before the interval, but it was a different story after the break.

The batsman was stumped by Snell off the occasional leg-spin bowling of Chris Taylor, which left Leics in some trouble at 95 runs behind their hosts with seven first-innings wickets remaining.

Dippenaar and Taylor then shared an important stand of 47, but when the former fell just after completing a half-century, County’s task of saving the game was made much harder.

Snell was again in the action, taking a fourth victim out of four by catching Dippenaar off Stayt. His runs came from 102 balls and the batsmen stroked six boundaries along the way.

Just as it looked as though Taylor and Nixon had got through to the close, the captain fell leg-before after a 53-ball stay.

Worse was to follow when White was caught by Will Porterfield off the same bowler without scoring, and it ended things on a low note.

However, County will hope Taylor and the lower middle-order can rescue the situation tomorrow.