Stevens takes 5-wicket haul in Bristol draw
Darren Stevens grabbed his seventh five-wicket haul of the season as Gareth Roderick kept Kent at bay on the final day of Gloucestershire’s Specsavers’ County Championship game in Bristol.
The veteran all-rounder collected 5/77 but Roderick’s resistance with 78*, despite a finger injury, frustrated Kent’s hopes of a run chase and an unlikely win.
Click here for tickets for the final match
Stevens sent back Chris Dent (41) with the very first ball of the day and then trapped captain Mustard lbw, three balls later.
When James Bracey departed in the same manner, Gloucestershire were 91 for 3. With the news of Roderick’s likely no-show, that, effectively, was 91 for 4. Or so we thought.
First innings batting hero Cameron Bancroft, and George Hankins, provided some respite and took the hosts to 146 before the latter edged Mitch Claydon to Sam Billings and though Bancroft and Jack Taylor survived to lunch and beyond, there was further trouble ahead.
Bancroft departed for 72, at 186 for 5 and Taylor, who was dropped at second slip on 9, at 163 for 4, followed the Australian back to the pavilion a dozen runs later when Matt Coles had him caught behind by Billings for 27. It got worse, for Gloucestershire, before it improved, with Kieran Noema-Barnett, driving Stevens to mid off where sub fielder Imran Qayyun took a comfortable catch.
From that juncture, the pressure fell on the shoulders of Roderick. With Josh Shaw providing solid support, the 26-year-old looked in precious little trouble or discomfort as Kent struggled for the break through.
By the time Stevens helped himself to a fifth wicket in the innings, that of Shaw, for 2, Gloucestershire were just about home and dry at 249 for 8.
Roderick passed his 50 off 76 balls, with eight fours, and Norwell was ninth man out – run out for 8 by Qayyum backing up at the non-striker’s end before the teams shook hands on a draw.