CRICKET: Van Den Bergh's debut ton not enough (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)
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Cirencester fail to capitalise on overseas player's fine start
11:45am Tuesday 22nd May 2012 in Sport
Readers Glos CCL Div 1
Cirencester 204 all out
Gloucester AIW 205-4
CIRENCESTER’S overseas player, Nick Van Den Bergh, did not disappoint on his much-anticipated first league innings but despite his 110 runs, the hosts were still beaten by six wickets.
After our wet start to the summer, it was understandable when the Glos AIW skipper, having won the toss, asked Cirencester to bat first.
The opening bowling partnership of Umar and Imran got the ball moving both in the air and off the pitch, even so it wasn't until the tenth over that they managed to get the breakthrough with the score on 36.
Van Den Bergh then came to the crease and though the conditions didn't allow him to flow from the start, his concentration and fine technique were evident.
As the shine went off the ball, he started to show his quality.
However, wickets fell at the other end on a regular basis and it took a gritty performance from Simon Rowe (26), batting at eight, to provide support.
After Van Den Bergh was eventually run out late on for a brilliantly constructed 110, Cirencester went on to finish on what appeared an insurmountable score of 204. The game plan for the bowlers was simple, keep the ball full and straight and allow the pitch to do the work. However, having not played all season, the rustiness showed in their accuracy.
Too often the ball was pitched short and wide therefore allowing the batsmen to score too freely. With so many gifted four balls, and a total of 24 wides, it was impossible for the bowlers to build the pressure that was needed to force errors out of the batsman.
Abu Saleh (93*) batted brilliantly for the visitors and provided the cornerstone of the AIW chase. He was joined late on by Akhtar, whose classy 38 carried the visitors to a well-deserved victory. An inauspicious start for Cirencester and an early dent to their league aspirations.
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