Chris Dent and Liam Norwell both scored centuries as Gloucestershire’s batsmen dominated Day Three of the Specsavers County Championship match at Bristol.
The pair were ably backed up by Hamish Marshall (72), Kieran Noema-Barnett (58) and Benny Howell (41) as the hosts managed to score 563 all out in their first innings, securing a 119-run lead.
Derbyshire’s spinning duo of Wes Durston (3-149) and Chesney Hughes (3-87) both picked up three wickets during the day, whilst debutants Luke Fletcher and Andy Carter both took their first wicket for the county, who will begin their second innings when play resumes tomorrow.
Starting the day on 110-1, Gloucestershire’s unbeaten overnight pairing of Dent and Norwell defied the Derbyshire attack to bat through the entire morning session, scoring 144 to boost the overnight score to 254-1 at lunch.
The pair reached their centuries either side of the interval, Dent’s coming shortly before lunch from 154 balls and Norwell’s – his first in first-class cricket – from 120 balls shortly after.
The partnership was eventually broken on 168 when Hughes had Norwell lbw on 102 before Fletcher got his first wicket for Derbyshire, removing Ian Cockbain for 19, to leave Gloucestershire 317-3.
Soon after, Carter also got his first wicket for the Club when he bowled Gareth Roderick for five as Derbyshire took three key wickets during the afternoon session as the players took tea with the score on 368-4.
After the break, Hughes got his second wicket of the game when he bowled Dent around his legs for a superb 180 that, with help from Norwell, had put his side in a dominant position.
There were then two wickets in quick succession as Durston picked up Hamish Marshall for a brisk 72 before Hughes removed Jack Taylor (18) to return three wickets for the first time in his first-class career.
Durston then picked up Noema-Barnett for a quick-fire 58, and Josh Shaw without scoring, before Shiv Thakor had Howell caught on the boundary for a useful 41, as the hosts were bowled out for 563 at the close of play.
Derbyshire will begin their second innings at 11am tomorrow morning with a 119-run deficit from the first innings.
Click HERE to view scorecard.
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