Hodnett grants Gloucs' wishes

Grant Hodnett © Getty Images

Grant Hodnett hit his maiden first class century as Gloucestershire fought back hard on the third day of their LV County Championship Division Two match at Taunton.

The 24-year-old opener was run out for 108, made off 138 balls, with 17 fours. And, with Marcus North contributing an unbeaten 101 and Kadeer Ali a patient 95, the visitors ran up 389 for four to lead by 95 at the close.

Somerset’s bowlers found it tough going on a pitch that had lost all its moisture of the opening two days.

Marcus Trescothick limped from the field in the final session suffering from tendonitis in his foot and could be struggling to bat in Somerset’s second innings.

Gloucestershire began the day on 107 without loss, needing a further 187 to make Somerset bat again. Hodnett progressed smoothly from his overnight 59, while Kadeer dropped anchor.

The opening stand had reached 155 when Hodnett off-drove Peter Trego to reach his hundred off 134 balls with 15 boundaries. It was an impressive effort by the Johannesburg-born son of English parents.

Kadeer could not match his partner’s fluency and took an hour and 10 minutes moving from his overnight 42 to a half-century, made from 146 deliveries, with seven fours.

Kadeer Ali struggled to score runs in the morning session

But neither batsman looked in much trouble until, with the total on 165, Hodnett came too far down the pitch before being sent back by Kadeer, who had clipped Ian Blackwell to square leg.

Mark Turner’s smart fielding defeated Hodnett’s attempt to recover his ground.

It was a breakthrough the bowlers had not looked like achieving and the scoreboard had moved on to 191 for one when rain brought an early lunch, with the loss of 11 overs.

On the resumption Caddick pinned Hamish Marshall lbw for 20 before another substantial stand between the resolute Kadeer and left-hander North.

They added 88, with the Australian moving confidently to a half-century off 76 balls, with eight fours. It was 284 for two at tea with Kadeer five short of a deserved century.

He had failed to add to his score when, with the new ball still only eight overs old, Somerset skipper Justin Langer entrusted the first over after the interval to left-arm spinner Blackwell.

Kadeer played a loose shot after all his hard graft and top edged to Turner running in from short fine-leg.

It was an undignified end to a five and three-quarter hour vigil, which had seen the opener face 279 balls and hit 10 fours.

Alex Gidman looked to be struggling for form in making 13 before falling lbw to Caddick with the score on 317 for four. At that point Gloucestershire were only 23 in front and needed more solid contributions.

North and Chris Taylor (41) made sure there were no more alarms, with the former reaching a chanceless ton off 159 balls, with 14 fours, just before the close.