By Grockle
July 3 2003

Mr Laraman puts his talents on display and takes Gloucestershire apart with a little help from Nixon. 148 not out isn't a bad way to show you can bat! Now we need him to bowl!

v GLOUCESTERSHIRE CC2 @ Taunton 3 July 2003

DAY ONE

DAY TWO

DAY THREE

DAY FOUR

Lorra Laraman

With 100 on the board at the start of the day for the loss of only two wickets, we could look forward to a good lead at the end of Day 2.  We could look forward to it, but on present season performances, we couldn't really expect it.  Lo and behold, it started early.  One extra on the board and Bryant fails to capitalise once more - if he doesn't get used to English conditions soon, there's gonna be no season to get used to!   Smith has him via Pope for 29.

We were waxing lyrically about the Tasmanian once again yesterday and we wanted big things from him today but he became Pope's second catch of the morning off Harvey at 113 and it all began to look so, so familiar!  Would we pass their smallish score or would we be praying for extended rain at the end of Saturday to try and grab a draw?   When Smith had Turner LBW on 135 for only 7 it did look bleak.

But Burns has shown a bit more backbone with the bat recently and today was the day when Aaron Laraman decided to show us what he may become.  136 for 5 became 244 for 6 before Burns went for a solid 66.  Dutch added 15 - mostly with three strokes - but went too early.  We had gone into the lead though.  Suppiah took a more leisurely time to make his 16 - during which time Laraman added 56 of his own and went past the half ton in the process. At 331 we had a decent lead.  Enter Mr McLean - he may be agricultural but when he stays around he can provide an awful lot of hay.  He hit 76 off 65 balls and put the ball into the crowd 4 times during the onslaught.  He added 101 with Laraman and took the allrounder past the three figure mark for the first time in a Somerset shirt.  432 was more than a decent lead, it was just what the doctor (and probably CEW) ordered!

And we weren't finished.  Simon Francis worked to add another 45 before he became the last victim - 477 all out with Laraman on 148 not out - 222 balls 24 fours and 1 six.   249 ahead and with the Bristolians up against it.  Frome Exile is right - put Nixon on ice, get his hamstring right and let him come out blazing and get Aaron on at the other end as soon as possible because he has to be flying after today's performance.

The wind blew fair and the rain stayed away for most of the day and the ball flew straight to the sweet spot of Laraman's bat - fate?  Hope not!  Let's take it home in the morning boys and stick it to them.