May 1013, County Ground, Northampton
Gloucestershire 409 (Hammond 112, Bancroft 53, Kaul 5-76, Patterson-White 2-62) & 77-0 (Charlesworth 41*, Bancroft 36*, Sanderson 0-32, Kaul 0-16 Zaib 0-2)
Northamptonshire 171 (Vasconcelos 43, Procter 32, de Lange 5-42, Gohar 2-29)
Toss: Northants, who elected to field
Officials: Martin Saggers, Neil Bainton
Points: Gloucestershire 7, Northants 3
DAY ONE
MILES HAMMOND struck a sparkling 112 (133 balls), his first century in two years, to help propel Gloucestershire to 338 for eight against Northamptonshire on day one at Wantage Road.
Despite hitting eight fifties last season, and three so far this year, this was the first time Hammond had gone on to reach three figures since making 169 against Hampshire in 2022.
While batting was never straightforward with swing on offer throughout the day, Hammond took the attacking route, hitting 17 boundaries and reaching his milestone by swotting Northamptonshire quick George Scrimshaw high over fine leg for a big six. Gloucestershire’s Australian overseas signing Cameron Bancroft also contributed a solid 53 at the top of the order.
Indian international Siddharth Kaul meanwhile made an immediate impact on his Northamptonshire debut, taking 4 for 58 in 23 testing overs.
Northamptonshire took three late wickets with the new ball including one for evergreen seamer Ben Sanderson, playing his 100th first-class match for his adopted county.
Northamptonshire won the toss and decided to bowl, fielding a largely new look attack, with Scrimshaw playing only his second game for the Tudor Rose, and Notts spinning all-rounder Liam Patterson-White coming in on a one-match loan deal.
Gloucestershire batted solidly during the morning, just losing Ben Charlesworth but after the interval, Kaul picked up the big wicket of Bancroft when he fell lbw. He then accounted for Price with a peach of a delivery which angled in before swinging away to take the edge, Emilio Gay taking an excellent diving catch at second slip.
Hammond though looked in fine form, and was joined in a partnership of 75 by James Bracey before the latter became Kaul’s third scalp, adjudged lbw.
Hammond and skipper Graeme van Buuren then put on 67, with runs flowing freely. Hammond finally when he came down the wicket to Patterson-White and chipped the ball to midwicket where Ricardo Vasconcelos held a stunning diving catch.
DAY TWO
Marchant de Lange’s 13th five-wicket haul in first-class cricket left Gloucestershire anticipating a first County Championship win since the end of the 2022 season on day two of their Division Two clash with
