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Search forWe're not consistent enough, admits Jack
Thursday, July 24, 2008, 08:00
One of only two counties yet to win a game in the four-day format this season, the visitors put themselves firmly in contention when dismissing the home side for 279 to concede a first innings deficit of just four runs.
But their good work in the field was then undermined by the latest in an embarrassing series of batting collapses.
Required to demonstrate fortitude during a pivotal final session, Gloucestershire's top order surrendered meakly and it will now take a remarkable effort to stop Division Two promotion hopefuls Essex forcing victory inside three days.
Danesh Kaneria holed Gloucestershire's ship below the waterline. The Pakistan spin magician claimed 3-13 as the visitors reached the close on 70-6, a mere 66 runs to the good.
Team mentor Jack Russell believes the day's play sums up the county's fortunes in the Championship this summer.
He said: “We played some excellent cricket in the first session, hauled ourselves back into the game and then let it slip again.
“It's been the same all season. We know what we're capable of, but we don't seem to be able to put it together on a consistent basis.”
He added: “We played some outstanding cricket, especially in the first session when we applied real pressure, took six wickets and had Essex in trouble.
“Unfortunately, we weren't able to maintain that level of performance.”
Paceman Steve Kirby and slow left-armer Vikram Banerjee have good reason to feel aggrieved after taking seven wickets between them to inspire a spirited fightback.
Displaying pace and aggression in equal measure, Kirby was particularly impressive as he claimed 5-60 from 22.5 overs, which included a venomous burst of three wickets for two runs in 15 balls as Essex subsided from 74-0 to 109-6.
There was little sign of the carnage to come when Varum Chopra and Jason Gallian staged an opening stand of 74, the highest of the innings. But Mark Hardinges knocked back Chopra's middle stump, Gallian was caught behind off a ball that left him and Kirby followed up that success by removing England one-day star Ravi Bopara and skipper Mark Pettini in quick succession.
When Banerjee accounted for Neil Dexter, caught behind in the act of driving, and Ryan ten Doeschate, lured into front foot indiscretion and pinned lbw, the home side were in danger of falling short.
That they eventually achieved parity was due, in no small part, to James Foster, who shared in revitalising stands of 69 and 49 with James Middlebrook and Graham Napier for the seventh and eighth wickets respectively.
David Masters and Kaneria then chanced their arms, adding 38 for the last wicket to put their side in credit, before Kirby took the second new ball to wrap up the tail.
But that was as good as it got for Gloucestershire, whose batting proved brittle in the extreme.
Kaneria had Will Porterfield lbw on the front foot, while Hamish Marshall, Alex Gidman, Chris Taylor and Marcus North all succumbed to injudicious shots.
Kadeer Ali was able to return after being hit on the left wrist by Napier and retiring hurt, but Gloucestershire gave the impression of a side in freefall when nightwatchman Banerjee fell to Middlebrook shortly before the close.
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