June 2008 Archives

The close: Warwickshire 143 for 2 (45 overs). Bell 95, Trott 9.

Bell is poised to build tomorrow and if the Bears can get 100-plus in front they will fancy their chances.

But then, as my dear old nan used to say: "If ifs and ands were pots and pans we'd have no need for tinkers".

Silly old bird.

Warwickshire 116 for 2 (35 overs). Bell 78, Trott 0.

The second-wicket stand reached 100 then, next ball, Poonia essayed a slog-sweep at North and fell lbw for 26 from 93 balls. He had showed real patience and a determination to seize the chance to make serious runs here and batted very solidly so to perish in such wild fashion can only be agonising.

Bell is slowing up as the close of play looms. He looks in a mood to see it through tonight and go for a big 'un tomorrow.

I'm going for a big 'un at close of play. Had a chicken dhansak last night.

Warwickshire 79 for 1 (23 overs). Poonia 17, Bell 50.

Bell has reached 50 from 66 balls with eight groovy fours. Poonia is playing a quiet supporting role, hitting some nice shots but finding the fielders a lot.

Gidman has a dislocated thumb and will probably play no further part in this match.

Tea: Warwickshire 42 for 1 (13 overs). Poonia 5, Bell 26.

Bell is batting beautifully. He greeted Wigley into the attack with a gorgeous straight-driven four then a cover drive to the boundary next ball.

He batted in much the same way in his championship appearances earlier this season but did not get past 41, 62, 42, 48 and 28. Can he build a big innings here?

Warwickshire 14 for 1 (4 overs). Poonia 2, Bell 1.

Kirby, a Warwickshire target whose exorbitant wage-demands are likely to delete him from the Bears' shopping-lists, sends one down outside off-peg and Powell could probably have left it but didn't and edged it to second slip.

Gloucestershire 336 all out. Snell 54 not out.

Martin returns to complete a champo debut five-for as Kirby skies a pull to Troughton at mid-wicket and Harris plays around a yorker to fall lbw. Martin: five for 64. He becomes the first Warwickshire debutant to take a five-for since Ntini at Lord's in 2005.

The press-box concensus is that Gloucestershire's total is slightly below par.

With one exception who reckons it is dead-on par.

Gloucestershire 317 for 8 (101 overs). Snell 43, Kirby 0.

Once again Gloucestershire hit the self-destruct button. Snell strokes the ball to deep square leg and they run a single, then Wigley embarks on an impossible second, is sent back and beaten by Woakes' throw.

Snell is batting rather well, just as he did in both innings against the Bears at Gloucester. Without wishing to heap pressure on the Winchester-born 25-year-old (who has the same birthday as my girlfriend), I'd say he has the makings of Jack Russell, Andy Stovold, Barrie Meyer and William Brain (who, by the way, against Somerset at Cheltenham in 1893, executed stumpings off three successive balls from Charlie Townsend) all rolled into one.

Gloucestershire 297 for 7 (95 overs). Snell 28, Wigley 5.

Lewis thrashed a short ball from Woakes high to deep point when Salisbury took the catch. Not the first wicket today to be surrendered recklessly.

Martin and Woakes bowled decent new-ball spells and Salisbury has just come on at the City End. His mission, if he chooses to accept it: to briskly clean up the tail.

Lunch: Gloucestershire 278 for 6 (88 overs). Snell 16, Lewis 0.

Gloucestershire finish with 88 for 4 in the session after Martin struck with his second over with the new ball. Gidman edged and Botha took his third catch of the morning, a brilliant effort left-handed diving to his right to scoop the ball up 1.77cms off the turf.

Martin has bowled well and his accuracy and bit of extra pace augurs well for the rest of the season.

Gloucestershire 245 for 5 (76 overs). Snell 0, Gidman 1.

Another bonus for the Bears. Carter again drops short and, remarkably, Taylor emulates Marshall and pulls the ball straight to Botha at mid-wicket.

Taylor out for 26 and two new batsmen, including Warwickshire target Gidman, at the crease. Gidman, of course, bagged a pair against the Bears at Gloucester last month, but avoided any potential repetition of that here by tucking Carter to deep square for a debonair single.