Gidman ton gives Gloucestershire control
Gloucestershire captain Alex Gidman scored his first century for nearly two years to lead his side into a commanding position against Leicestershire in their County Championship Division Two match at Grace Road
ESPNcricinfo staff
19-May-2011
Gloucestershire captain Alex Gidman scored his first century for nearly two years to lead his side into a commanding position against Leicestershire in their County Championship Division Two match at Grace Road.
Gidman scored a magnificent 168, his first ton since September 2009, as the visitors totalled 504 for nine before declaring, with New Zealander Kane Williamson scoring 149. Off-spinner Jigar Naik was Leicestershire's most successful bowler, claiming 4 for 91 off 27 overs, while Matthew Hoggard finished with 3 for 80.
That left Leicestershire to face eight overs before stumps, and they reached 15 without loss to trail by 489 runs with two days remaining.
But the day belonged to Gloucestershire after they resumed on 177 for three, with Williamson on 102 and Gidman unbeaten on 32. Gidman made his intentions clear with a fine six over long-on off left-arm spinner Claude Henderson which brought up his half-century off 83 balls.
Williamson was far more circumspect as he progressed to 149, before he was superbly caught low at slip by Will Jefferson off the bowling of Hoggard to end a 196-run fourth-wicket stand, the young New Zealand Test star faced 264 balls, striking 23 boundaries.
But Gidman continued to bat impressively with some excellent shots through the leg side and reached a well deserved century off 167 balls, with 11 boundaries in addition to his six. Will Gidman, who has been in better form than his elder brother this season, contributed 16 to a fifth-wicket partnership of 68 before being trapped lbw on the back foot by the ever-improving Naik.
The next landmark for Gloucestershire was his sibling's 150, which was soon followed by the 400 total being posted, giving the visitors their fifth batting bonus point with one ball to spare.Some lusty blows from Ed Young kept the scoreboard moving, but Gidman was out shortly after tea, falling lbw to Henderson after a fine 244-ball innings.
After that, it was a case of how quickly Gloucestershire could score to give themselves a chance of bowling Leicestershire out twice and they moved past the 500 mark despite late wickets falling, with Naik claiming three of them.
Jefferson and Matt Boyce safely negotiated the last few overs of the evening, with Boyce picking up three boundaries as the home side reached 15 without loss at the close.
