By Grockle
April 21 2003

A lead of 83 by the end of the innings with the second half of the batting line-up pulling us out of the brown stuff again. Nixon McLean seems to be settling in and we are in a strong position going into Day 3

v GLOUCESTERSHIRE CC2 @ Bristol 18 April 2003

DAY ONE

DAY TWO

DAY THREE

DAY FOUR

Johnno didn't exactly stay around a long time, but after all he had done his job rather well.  After a partnership with Turner of 156 and on 118 (still for less than 100 balls) he finally became Lewis' sixth victim.  Went the day well after that?

Blackwell was next in and he started to add to the lead given to Somerset by the work of Johnson and our much put upon wicket keeper.  He added 44 in 37 minutes before Smith bowled him.  McLean went off at a run a minute - but only lasted 9 but Francis - who is there entirely on merit according to all reports (and who can argue on this showing) stayed around to bring Rob his first 50 of the year and to add 42, of which he took 34.  He was finally out to this guy Sillence and we finished on 289 - 83 runs ahead and a long way from 36!  The second half of the batting line-up managed 253 of that total and that is what needs to be worked on.  But we have a lead and well over two days to go in this game.  Would the Gloucestershire batting look as fragile the second time around?

HTV West last night were talking about Gloucestershire reaching a 'sizeable total' in their first innings - shows how much they know about the game I suppose.  What with that and Wisden predicting that we would come 7th in the Championship and BBC Teletext devoting 8 pages of cricket reporting to the thoughts of chairman Trego from the Kent countryside it makes you wonder where they pick their news up from.  Not a word about Johnson except on Points West - ahh well!

Weston is McLean's rabbit after he goes to him again for 12, but not before Spearman is picked up by Robbo off Johnno.  Glos. are 28 for 2 and all is looking rosey.  44 from Rhodes (bowled Blackwell 113 for 3) and 55 from Hancock (caught Turner bowled McLean 147 for 4) make the going a little more rocky and although Alleyne went  for 0 LBW to McLean, Windows and Russell are making a game of it with the score on 209 for 5.   Windows passed his 50 just before the close.  Two days to go and the home side effectively 126 for 5 - where SHOULD we go from here?  The rain held off - we'd like at least another days grace.  McLean took 3 for 32 and Johnson bowled 17 overs in the day, for the second day running.

Capitalise gentlemen, lets greet Durham on Wednesday with loadsa points in the Championship bag - SEVENTH for heaven's sake!  The press believe that we have not solved our batting problems, the supporters would like to believe that we have.  We seem to have Banger for the first four games and Caddick for Derbyshire at least.   That could mean three games in the Tucker bag before the squad reverts to its final version and we have to capitalise!