Thursday, September 1st, 2022

TONGUE AND DAVIDSON SHINE AS SECONDS WIN BY AN INNINGS WITH A DAY TO SPARE

Pace bowler Josh Tongue and spinner Olly Davidson sparkled with the ball for Worcestershire Seconds who defeated Gloucestershire Seconds by an innings and 96 runs with a day to spare in the Second Eleven Championship match at Rockhampton.

Tongue inflicted the early damage on the third day, polishing off the Gloucestershire innings for 187 and then picking up three early wickets when the home side followed on 352 behind.

It was another encouraging performance on his return from a shoulder injury after his two wickets against visiting Essex in the Royal London Cup.

Davidson then took centre-stage with his second five-for in the SEC after making his Royal London Cup debut last week against Glamorgan at New Road as Gloucestershire were dismissed for 256.

He had returned 6-111 in the first innings of the match with Nottinghamshire Seconds at Lady Bay Sports Club, Nottingham last month.

Worcestershire collected 23 points from the match with four for batting, three for bowling and 16 for the win.

Gloucestershire resumed on 175-8 and Tongue quickly polished off the innings, bowling Edward Middleton (26) after he pushed forward and trapping Adnan Ghaus (24) lbw with a delivery which cut back in.

He then took the new ball and struck with successive deliveries in his second over.

Tom Lace (1) shouldered arms and was bowled and the same fate befell Ben Wells (0) after his tentative push.

Tongue reduced Gloucestershire to 8-3 when William Smale (4) also offered no shot as the ball crashed into his stumps.

His figures in a spell spanning the two innings was 5.3-2-13-5.

William Naish (76) and Joseph Phillips (80) added 145 for the fourth wicket but then wickets tumbled regularly to Davidson.

Naish (76) aimed a big hit over mid wicket and was bowled and Louie Shaw (120 was caught around the corner by Taylor Cornall at leg slip.

Middleton (0) became the third player in the innings to be bowled without playing a shot, this time to Davidson who then held onto a return catch from Phillips.

Davidson completed his five-for when he trapped Paul van Meekeren (0) lbw and then a wicket apiece for Cornall and debutant Joe Stanley polished off the innings.

Davidson finished with figures of 21-4-62-5 and Tongue 11-4-25-3.