Sports
No. 2 scorer Stojakovic returns to loaded Illinois
Andrej Stojakovic is back at Illinois for his senior year, boosting their title hopes!
ESPN News1 min read
SportsRecap
Lancashire start well at rain-hit Bristol
TL;DR
Lancashire started strong in their match against Gloucestershire, who are currently at 124-6. George Balderson took 4 wickets for 27 runs.
Key points
- Lancashire started strong in their match against Gloucestershire
- Gloucestershire scored 124 runs for 6 wickets
- George Balderson took 4 wickets for 27 runs
LancashireGloucestershireGeorge Balderson
George Balderson needs one more wicket for his second five-for in first-class cricket [Getty Images]
Rothesay County Championship, Division Two, Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol (day one)
Gloucestershire 124-6: Price 35; Balderson 4-27
Lancashire: Yet to bat
Gloucestershire 0pts, Lancashire 2pts
George Balderson claimed four wickets as Lancashire dominated a rain-curtailed opening day of the County Championship Division Two match with Gloucestershire in Bristol.
After losing the toss, the home side had plunged to 124-6 off 44 overs by the time the weather brought play to a halt at 14:45 BST, with seamer Balderson producing figures of 4-27 from 16 overs, including a spell of 3-5 either side of lunch.
Ollie Price top-scored with 35 on another miserable day for the home side, who went into the match following innings defeats in their first two games.
Balderson's contribution was all the more important given that Lancashire lost Ajeet Singh Dale to injury at the start of the sixth over against his former county.
He pulled up in delivery stride clutching the top of his left hamstring and will play no further part in the match, with Ollie Sutton summoned from a second XI fixture at Leicester to take his place under the new substitute rule.
With the skies gloomy and the floodlights on from the start, Lancashire skipper James Anderson won an important toss and sent down an accurate six-over spell when play commenced, conceding only seven runs and beating the bat on several occasions.
With the total on 22, Cameron Bancroft advanced down the pitch to Anderson and called for a quick single to cover, failing to beat Josh Bohannon's direct hit when rightly sent back by Ben Charlesworth.
Lancashire suffered another injury problem with the score 43-1 as wicketkeeper Matty Hurst suffered a painful blow to his left hand when standing up to the stumps to Balderson.
Clearly in a lot of pain, he required several minutes of treatment before continuing in some discomfort.
Q&A
What was the score of Gloucestershire in the match against Lancashire?
Gloucestershire scored 124 runs for the loss of 6 wickets.
Who was the standout bowler for Lancashire in the match?
George Balderson was the standout bowler, taking 4 wickets for 27 runs.
What is the significance of George Balderson's performance?
George Balderson needs just one more wicket to achieve his second five-for in first-class cricket.
