da wazamba： Century-makers Chris Dent and Alex Gidman put on 267 for the third wicket asGloucestershire reached 348 for 3 on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival against bottom-of-the-table Kent.
10-Jul-2013
ScorecardChris Dent made his third first-class century and second at Cheltenham•Getty Images
Century-makers Chris Dent and Alex Gidman put on 267 for the third wicket asGloucestershire reached 348 for 3 on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival against bottom-of-the-table Kent.Gidman joined Dent in the middle after young Kent seamer Calum Haggett hadaccounted for Michael Klinger and Dan Housego to leave Gloucestershire on 74 for2 in the 19th over.Dent reached his first hundred of the season from 205 deliveries and advancedto a career-best 153, with 17 fours and two sixes in his 270-ball innings,before Haggett had him caught behind.Gidman, who survived difficult catching chances on 38 and 58, brought up histhird County Championship century of the year from 185 balls and moved on to 145not out at stumps, having struck 19 fours and a six.After winning the toss, home skipper Klinger helped Dent get the innings off toa brisk start with a flurry of boundaries from the bowling of South African starVernon Philander and Charlie Shreck.Haggett made the breakthrough for Kent in his second over from the College LawnEnd. Klinger chased a wide delivery and only succeeded in edging it to DarrenStevens at second slip to depart for 20 with the score on 46. Haggett, who was released by Somerset without making a first-class appearance,struck again in his fifth over when Housego, on 13, got an inside edge onto hisstumps.Tight spells from Philander and Stevens slowed the scoring rate and anevenly-balanced morning session ended with Gloucestershire on 98 for 2 from 31overs.But It was a different story thereafter as Dent and Gidman took advantageof the short boundaries square of the wicket and a quick outfield to leadGloucestershire into a strong position.Gidman enjoyed a slice of luck on 38 when Brendan Nash failed to grasp ahead-high chance at extra cover off Stevens. His second reprieve came on 58 whenStevens, at backward point, failed to hold a diving catch off Philander.Dent also offered a chance on his way to three figures. Heflicked the third ball after tea from Charlie Shreck down the legside, butwicketkeeper Geraint Jones was unable to hold a one-handed diving catch. Soon after, Dent swept James Tredwell’s offspin for a single to bring up histhird first-class hundred and his second at Cheltenham, having scored a tonagainst Surrey at the ground two years ago.Gidman, 32, reached his century eight overs later with a single to square leg offTredwell. Having given up the captaincy at the end of last season, Gidman is enjoying an excellent season.Dent and Gidman accelerated the scoring rate in the closing hour’s play and nobowler suffered more than Tredwell, who is still searching for his firstChampionship wicket of the summer. Dent struck him for two straight sixes andGidman also hit him for six over midwicket as he ended the day with 0 for83 from 19 overs.Kent finally had a third wicket to celebrate when Haggett struck with fourovers of the day remaining. Dent flashed at a ball outside off stump and snickeda catch to Jones.