Ollie Price just turned the County Championship Second Division match against Derbyshire completely on its head, delivering a career-best bowling performance with an incredible 6-45 that dragged Gloucestershire back into contention on day three in Bristol. While everyone expected overseas spinner Sai Kishore to dominate on a pitch prepared for him, it was Price’s off breaks that did the real damage, slicing through Derbyshire’s lineup and setting the stage for a wild finish.
Derbyshire’s Collapse Paves the Way for Price’s Masterclass
Derbyshire looked comfortable early, resuming their first innings at 162-2, with Matt Montgomery fluent in hitting his half century. He dominated a 43-run third-wicket stand, but then the wheels absolutely fell off. Their smooth progress got rudely interrupted by a clatter of three wickets in just six overs. Montgomery, after scoring 65, top-edged a Matt Taylor bumper straight to Kishore, sending him packing. Then it was Price’s show. Extracting serious turn from the Ashley Down Road end, Price tore through Wayne Madsen and Martin Andersson in consecutive overs. Madsen edged one to Cameron Bancroft at slip, and Andersson was gone for a 10-ball duck after missing a straightener. Derbyshire’s last eight wickets collapsed for a mere 74 runs, leaving them all out for 278 and a first-innings lead of just 41. Price continued his rampage after lunch, bowling Aneurin Donald around his legs for 26 and having Brooke Guest held at short square leg, eclipsing his previous best of 3-40. He completed his first ever five-for by bowling Brett Randell with a quicker ball and finished his incredible day by having Ben Aitchison superbly held by Tommy Boorman. This wasn’t just good bowling; it was a complete demolition job.
Gloucestershire Fights Back, Sets Up Crucial Day Four
With that narrow 41-run deficit, Gloucestershire had to make a serious statement in their second innings, and they absolutely did. Joe Phillips posted a patient 65 and linked up with Miles Hammond, who is still out there at 46 not out, for a crucial 69-run third-wicket stand. By the close of play, Gloucestershire had battled their way to 149-3, pushing their lead to a much more respectable 108 runs. Derbyshire’s England spinner Shoaib Bashir did manage to pick up 2-59, keeping them somewhat in the fight, but the momentum is clearly with Gloucestershire after Price’s heroics.
What a turnaround! Gloucestershire (3 pts) now lead Derbyshire (4 pts) by 108 runs going into day four. Derbyshire will be counting on Bashir to make serious inroads with the ball in the morning. This match is now wide open, and with the lead just over a hundred, every run and every wicket on day four is going to feel like the most important play of the season. You can bet day four is going to be absolutely electric.
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Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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