Windows edges Gloucestershire into strong position
Matt Windows emerged from a worrying sequence of three successive ducks to bat Gloucestershire into a strong position at Bristol
Richard Latham
11-May-2001
Matt Windows emerged from a worrying sequence of three successive ducks to
bat Gloucestershire into a strong position at Bristol.
The 28-year-old England A batsman ended the third day of the CricInfo Championship match unbeaten on 88, with his side well placed on 208-4, a lead of 235.
It has been a roller-coaster start to the season for Windows, who hit a
Benson & Hedges Cup century against Northants, but has already failed to
score in five innings.
There was no evidence of poor form as he emerged from an understandably edgy
start to dominate the bowling on a testing two-paced pitch, compiling his
runs off 200 balls, with 12 boundaries.
Rob Cunliffe also batted well to contribute 48 before frustratingly
sacrificing his wicket to off-spinner Paul Weekes with a poorly played cut
that presented Stephen Fleming with a slip catch.
And after Kim Barnett and Ian Harvey had fallen cheaply, skipper Mark
Alleyne helped Windows add 49 in an unbroken fifth-wicket stand to tilt the
game firmly Gloucestershire's way.
Earlier, David Nash had frustrated the home side's hopes of a major first
innings lead with an unbeaten half-century after Middlesex began the day on
186-7.
Nash's valuable innings occupied 154 balls and featured seven boundaries. With
Angus Fraser contributing a valuable 25, Middlesex added 59 to their
overnight score before being bowled out for 245.
Gloucestershire's bowling lacked the discipline of the previous day and both
Jon Lewis and Harvey were below par in completing figures of 3-50 and
4-96 respectively.