Bancroft century puts Glo’sters in command
CAMERON Bancroft compiled an unbeaten century – his first since rejoining Gloucestershire – to steer the visitors into position for a final-day victory push against hosts Northants, writes Ben Kosky.
The Australian opener, right, in his second stint with the West Country side, hit 130 not out to underpin Gloucestershire’s secondinnings total of 319 for five declared – an overall lead of 557.
That strengthened his side’s prospects of a first Championship win since the 2022 campaign, with almost four-and-a-half sessions in which to dismiss Northants for a second time.
But Gloucestershire encountered dogged resistance from Emilio Gay, who registered 74 – a second successive half-century – and shared a 106 partnership with Luke Procter (45 not out) as the hosts closed on 144 for two.
Already 315 ahead when play resumed, Gloucestershire set about extending that advantage but all the home seamers found a degree of movement from one end, while Liam Patterson-White bowled unchanged from the other.
The left-arm spinner, on a shortterm loan from Nottinghamshire, collected all three wickets to fall during the morning session – the first with a delivery that turned to bowl Ben Charlesworth on 49.
Patterson-White claimed 100th career first-class wicket when Ollie Price was leg before not offering a shot, while Miles Hammond’s stop-start knock of 28 was brought to an end as he danced down to Patterson-White, enabling Lewis McManus to take off the bails.
James Bracey reached 34 at a run a ball before holing out to mid-off against George Scrimshaw, but Graeme van Buuren maintained the visitors’ momentum, the Gloucestershire captain making 67 from 57 balls.