Smith ton gives Derbyshire hope
Greg Smith hit a brilliant 130 as Derbyshire battled valiantly to stay in the game on the third day at Bristol
10-Apr-2011
Greg Smith hit a brilliant 130 as Derbyshire battled valiantly to stay in the
game on the third day at Bristol.
The 27-year-old South African produced a dazzling array of strokes to hit 21
fours in a 141-ball knock that threatened to turn the match after his side had
been reduced to 161 for 5 in their second innings, still 25 runs behind.
Smith dominated a sixth-wicket stand of 128 with Luke Sutton (25), but both
then fell in quick succession and Derbyshire were bowled out for 331, a lead of
just 145, Chesney Hughes contributing 60. By the close Gloucestershire had
reached 19 for one and need 127 more tomorrow for the win.
Left-arm seamer David Payne claimed 5 for 76 on his first class debut, while
Will Gidman produced the most economical bowling with one for 29 from 16 overs.
Derbyshire began the day on 30 without loss, needing a further 156 to make
Gloucestershire bat again. Only three runs had been added when Garry Park was
caught behind fending at a lifting delivery from Jon Lewis.
It was 54 for 2 when Wayne Madsen fell lbw for 34 to a delivery from Liam
Norwell that nipped back and 86 for three when Wes Durston fenced at a delivery
from the accurate Gidman and wicketkeeper Jonathan Batty took the catch.
By lunch the visitors had progressed to 113 for 3, with Hughes unbeaten on
43. Five runs were added before Dan Redfern played down the wrong line to Payne
and departed lbw for 8.
The powerful Hughes reached a half-century soon after the interval with a
flowing drive off Payne, his 11th boundary in facing 65 balls. But Payne soon
took revenge by having Hughes caught behind off a good length ball with the
total on 161.
By then Smith was already counter-attacking with gusto, producing some superb
cover drives. Sutton was happy to just hold up the other end, taking 45 minutes
to get off the mark and contributing only two to the first 50 runs of the
partnership.
Smith had one giant slice of good fortune when dropped by Chris Dent at second
slip off Norwell on 99 in the over before tea. He forced the next delivery
through the off-side for two to bring up his ton off 104 balls.
Tea was reached with the total at 251 for 5. Smith and Sutton stayed
together until the fifth over with the second new ball, which saw Lewis knock
back Smith's off-stump. The stand was a Derbyshire record for the sixth wicket
against Gloucestershire.
Sutton fell four balls later as Dent redeemed himself with a diving slip catch
off Ian Saxelby and Payne quickly polished off the tail.
