Latest news with #Gloucestershire
BBC News
3 hours ago
- Climate
- BBC News
No timeframe for Thames Water hosepipe ban to end, says company
A water company has said it can't say when a hosepipe ban will come to an end because it is "generally waiting for rain".Thames Water announced a ban last week which has come into effect for customers with postcodes beginning with OX, GL, SN, RG4, RG8 and follows bans from Yorkshire Water, Southern Water and South East Water and affects almost 1.1 million people in Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Tucker, demand reduction manager at Thames Water, said he appreciates how frustrating it is when water use is restricted and there are many leaks at the same time, but said the company is "doing everything they can to deal with it". The unusual dry spell and heatwaves over the past few months triggered the ban and some residents and businesses in Berkshire have told the BBC it is "restrictive and difficult". Professional gardener Janet Wood said: "It is difficult because sometimes we only go to our customers' gardens once a week, sometime fortnightly."If they aren't watering then that makes it very difficult for us, because everything is dying by the time we visit again."It can be very depressing to see."Ms Wood explained that if gardeners are "lucky" then "our customers have invested in a drip system" - which are very small hoses that drip water gradually into the flower said: "These are very economical, effective and not part of the hosepipe ban."Otherwise, we have to hope our customers are using a watering can and are giving every plant a good dose of water, at least twice a week.""The situation is very frustrating," she added."We need to be looking at drought-proof plants that can withstand longer periods without water and finding ways to be economical with water because it is something we are going to have to deal with more in the future." Kevin Browne, vice-chairman and honorary treasurer of Henley-on-Thames Bowling Club, said the ban means the club is "restricted" even though they are a sports added that Thames Water has been "very ambiguous" with its explained that the club has a "delightful green lawn" which looks healthy because there has been "plenty of rain in the last few days"."If we have the weather we have had over the last three months then it will give us lots of problems and could be restrictive," he added."We have a number of areas in the lawn where it goes really brown, particularly where our sprinklers don't cover the lawn properly, but we can water those patches with the watering can."He said the club has been told by Thames Water that "if things really get dire then they would be sympathetic to us using our sprinklers".And Mr Browne is hopeful the club won't be badly impacted. "With the weather the way it is now we are not going to be affected in any major way whatsoever," he said. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
3 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
Nailsworth woman devastated after dog dies from adder bite
A woman said she was "devastated" when her dog died after being bitten by an a nine-year-old cocker spaniel, started to limp after walking in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire. She was taken to the vets, who initially thought it was a pulled muscle but eventually found two punctures marks, indicating an adder bitePoppy's owner, Vanessa Kellow, now wants to raise awareness so other dog owners can protect their pets. "Watching your dog in pain is horrendous, she was such a good-natured, wonderful, lovely pet," she said. Mrs Kellow says if she had known more about the signs and symptoms of an adder bite, she would have taken Poppy to the vets sooner. "If I had been aware of what happened that evening, I would have rung the vets. It may not have saved her but it would have removed four days of incredible pain." Dr Alex Hewett, director at Regency Vets in Cheltenham, says it is important for owners to know what to do if their dog has been bitten. "Our advice is to try and get them to the vet as as soon as possible""If you can, try and carry your dog back to the car, to try and reduce the spread of toxin through the body and then apply something cool to the bite area". Adders are a protected species and are currently declining in the UKEcologists have been working to protect them in Gloucestershire, with more than 2,000 reptiles, including adders, being relocated to clear the way for the A417 missing link project. Natasha James, the senior ecologist for missing link lead company Kier, said it is important for dog owners to understand the endangered species."The Cotswolds is such a stronghold for adders. It's important to remember to stick to designated paths," she said."You are in their home and if you can keep your dogs on leads and just be respectful of that, then there's no reason why humans and nature can't coexist beautifully."If you see them, have your dog on a lead and stand well back, but enjoy the beauty of them."Symptoms of adder bites in dogs include pain and swelling, bruising, lethargy, drooling and vomiting.
The Guardian
9 hours ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Yorkshire v Surrey, Sussex v Essex, and more: county cricket day one
Update: Date: 2025-07-22T19:50:07.000Z Title: Gloucestershire Content: There was an intriguing first day at Cheltenham college, a fine debut knock from Kane Williamson and Rehan Ahmed in the runs once more Tanya Aldred at Cheltenham Tue 22 Jul 2025 15.49 EDT First published on Tue 22 Jul 2025 05.00 EDT 3.49pm EDT 15:49 Tanya Aldred The sandy-stoned gorgeousness of Cheltenham college, the white hospitality tents full of bonhomie and beer – it wasn't long ago that the world's longest-running cricket festival was a healthy homage to the county game. But times have changed, and lost £80,000 at last year's festival, and a similar amount the year before. The future looks uncertain, but the 2,400 who came through the gate saw an intriguing day on a butterscotch outfield, that largely dodged the menacing dishwasher clouds that swung in from the north west. Lancashire's Matty Hurst reached his hundred to a enthusiastic round of applause, after holding the innings together against the off-spin of Todd Murphy, the zippy Zaman Akhter (four for 64) and Ajeet Singh Dale, who, festival rumour has it, is off to Old Trafford at the end of the season. Kane Williamson enjoyed his red-ball debut for Middlesex, with an unbeaten 88 against Northamptonshire, a cameo companion to Max Holden's 137 – his third hundred of the summer. An eyebrow raising 22 wickets fell at Taunton, and in a Kookaburra round as well. Craig Overton hustled Durham out for 145, with six for 23; before George Drissell returned the favour for Durham, with five for 59. Tom Lammonby helped Somerset to 250, giving Durham just time to lose two wickets in the three overs before stumps. Spectators at Sophia Gardens watched an epic Kent collapse – six wickets for seven runs against Glamorgan, while at Scarborough, Yorkshire's top four kept top of the table Surrey at bay, despite the unavailability of their new signing Imam-Ul-Haq, with visa issues. There were three wickets for Dan Worrall. Rehan Ahmed danced to his third consecutive century, from 118 balls, as Leicestershire bloomed from a sub-optimal nought for two after eight balls against Derbyshire. Lewis Hill was unbeaten on 132 at stumps, while Peter Handscomb perched on 99. Essex had one of their better days of 2025, ushering Sussex out for 204, the clockwork Jamie Porter (four for 40) and Sam Cook reunited. Ethan Brookes' 80 against his old club kept Worcestershire in the hunt against Warwickshire at Edgbaston. Freddie McCann and Jack Haynes pocketed half centuries for Nottinghamshire on an emerald pitch against Hampshire at Southampton. 2.03pm EDT 14:03 The seagulls call and circle the mowers, the Cheltenham team draw out the groundsheets. Thanks for your company today, we'll be back tomorrow – have a lovely evening. 2.02pm EDT 14:02 DIVISION ONE Southampton: Hampshire v Nottinghamshire 241-5 Taunton: Somerset 250 v Durham 145 and 5-2 Hove: Sussex 204 v Essex 152-4 Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Worcestershire 262-8 Scarborough: Yorkshire 282-4 v Surrey DIVISION TWO Derby: Derbyshire v Leicestershire 357-3 Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 125-4 v Kent 155 Cheltenham: v Lancashire 290-6 Merchant Taylors' School: Middlesex 319-1 v Northamptonshire 12.30pm EDT 12:30 I'd better write up for the paper. Apologies for missing Lewis Hill's century in Leicestershire's 320-3, and Max Holden's 133 in Middlesex's 303-1, a true Kookaburra day one. Do hang around and chat on BTL. 12.25pm EDT 12:25 Fifty for Matty Hurst… An assured fifty from Hurst and an important one for his side 📸 while at the other end George Balderson is undone by some chin-music from Zaman Akhter (4-46). Lancashire 209-6. 12.18pm EDT 12:18 Ali on Liam Dawson's big chance. 12.14pm EDT 12:14 The shot you might play after a long night of the soul. 🎬 Will Jacks finds a bit of turn to remove Luxton. 🤎 | #SurreyCricket Yorkshire battling against Surrey at Scarborough – fifties (well, 47 for Lyth) for each of the top four. Worrall three for 49. YJB now 18 not out. Yorkshire 280 for four. Updated at 12.14pm EDT 12.05pm EDT 12:05 Make that four for 17 ,as Drissell sends Banton on his way. A classic Somerset wobble. Soon Lewis Gregory and Craig Overton will appear to angrily whack 65 and save the batter blushes. 11.56am EDT 11:56 Somerset have slipped on that rogue bar of Chester-le-Street soap. After an easy start, they've suddenly lost three for five in eight balls. That man Wagner with the original breakthrough, TKC caught and bowled for 40, before Potts grabbed Davey and Rew in the same over, and Drissell did for Abell. Somerset 115-4, 30 behind Durham. 11.51am EDT 11:51 James Bracey is lying on the ground, after taking a blow somewhere painful. His teammates chew their nails, utterly unconcerned. Lovely to wander around at tea: children having fun bowling at each other in the nets, a book signing, good-humoured chatter. A cloud burst, though, seems imminent. Cody the dog, lime trees and ice-creams at the Cheltenham festival. 11.16am EDT 11:16 Time for a cup of tea and a leg stretch, back shortly. 11.16am EDT 11:16 Am enjoying watching Todd Murphy bowl, especially his little high leg dog-lift at start of his run-up walk in. Cricinfo says he is thought of as the heir to Nathan Lyon when he eventually hangs up his boots. That'll be a way away – but he's easy on the eye. 11.08am EDT 11:08 DIVISION ONE Southampton: Hampshire 62-1 v Nottinghamshire 94-2 Taunton: Somerset 62-1 v Durham 145 Hove: Sussex 204 v Essex Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Worcestershire 159-4 Scarborough: Yorkshire 214-2 v Surrey DIVISION TWO Derby: Derbyshire v Leicestershire 241-3 Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 2-0 v Kent 155 Cheltenham: v Lancashire 169-5 Merchant Taylors' School: Middlesex 247-1 v Northamptonshire Updated at 11.15am EDT 11.01am EDT 11:01 Rehan Ahmed has been dismissed for 115, but Lewis Hill, who joined him at the crease at 0-2, is unbeaten on 85. Leics 241-3. 10.58am EDT 10:58 Still slight as a candle, James Bracey takes a quick-witted diving catch to his right to dismiss Phil Salt, before jogging a semi-circle of celebration. Lancs 160-5, a fellow traveller in today's low-scores club. 10.47am EDT 10:47 Yorkshire will join Surrey, Somerset and Middlesex and vote to retain 14 Championship matches, following a member survey. They will vote in favour of a marginal reduction in Blast games. The club vowed to 'reflect the views of its members when it places its vote.' At Cheltenham, in what is now pleasant shirt-sleeves warmth, Cameron Bancroft has just dropped Phil Salt at first slip off Akhter. 10.40am EDT 10:40 Truly, an epic performance at Sophia Gardens. From 150-5 to 155 all out. Three ducks (Parky C, Agar, Quinn) to finish things off. Three wickets for Harris and van der Gugten. Updated at 2.05pm EDT 10.36am EDT 10:36 Apologies for the delay. Vic Marks, who is signing copies of his new book, England Cricket Captains, the sequel to Alan Gibson's great book, pops up to the balcony. He says it is obviously flattening out at Taunton. Somerset 32-0. 10.12am EDT 10:12 As Hurst smack six to the right of a jolly band of drinkers in front of hospitality tent, let's wander around the grounds. Updated at 10.13am EDT 10.03am EDT 10:03 I can't work out whether the tannoy announcer has just named the Chapel End as sponsored by a local funeral directors, or Ajeet Singh Dale himself. Anyway, he accelerates in, black hair flowing behind. At Taunton, Durham, who'd done well to haul themselves up from 43-6, are finally all out for 145. Thanks largely to 42 from Ben Raine and twenties from Matthew Potts and Neil Wagner – who played half a game for Durham last year before his shoulder went. Craig Overton 6-23. Updated at 10.14am EDT 9.55am EDT 09:55 And four balls into the resumption, Josh Bohannon has a huge brain fade, quicksteps down the wicket to van Buuren, and is stumped. Lancs 106-3. 9.53am EDT 09:53 The covers are coming off here at Cheltenham, thanks to the busy groundsmen and, weather permitting, play will start at 2.55 with tea at 4.10. Five overs have been lost. A little nugget from the rainbreak – Lancashire sold 2000 tickets on the back of Sir Jimmy's wildcard selection for the Manchester Originals squad. At the same time, Rocky Flintoff was announced as a wildcard for Northern Superchargers. Updated at 9.54am EDT 9.36am EDT 09:36 For balance: Overton J. 🤩 Great to see Jamie Overton back bowling fast with the red ball in hand. 🏏 Yorkshire 142/2 in the 43rd over. 📺 WATCH LIVE ➡️ 🤎 | #SurreyCricket Both openers gone, caught off Worrall – Lyth for 47, Bean for 57. 9.33am EDT 09:33 As the rain falls again on unfortunate , this is worth a few minutes of your time – a call to arms by 's chief exec Neil Priscott. For those of you without a Cricketer subscription, lost £80,000 on last year's festival, even with the amazing Championship game against Glamorgan. They lost a similar amount the year before. 'We would like to continue it,' Priscott tells The Cricketer. 'But if we can't make it work this year, with the schedule we've got and the weather we have, then it will be really hard. We just can't keep losing money.' 'We need support. We need people to support the festival. If we continue to lose, regardless of what the domestic schedule might throw up, we can't keep doing it. But we want to keep doing it. 'If you go back pre-Hundred, pre-Covid, the festival made money. Good surpluses. It was a regular positive for the club. But since those, the schedule has changed a little bit, and it is completely different, and society is different. What used to be one of the hottest hospitality tickets in town, companies are different now. 'There is a different way that people work, and it is not necessarily spending a whole day at the cricket with 10 corporate colleagues. The hospitality market has changed markedly, and that was always one of Cheltenham's big wins. We do recognise that it's not like it was, and we shouldn't expect it to be. So, what are our expectations? We do want to make a surplus, but it is a heck of an effort.' So if you're thinking about coming down, please do! 9.20am EDT 09:20 The umpires walk out for a cursory inspection of the covers, and scurry back. 9.12am EDT 09:12 What a cracking season he's having. At the risk of sounding like a stuck record, he's looked a million dollars in the two centuries I've watched. Today, 104 not out, 121 balls, 14 fours, one six, rescuing Leicestershire from 0-2 to 146-2. Only one player has scored more County Championship hundreds than Rehan Ahmed in 2025. The 20-year-old also averaged more than 40 with the bat in the Blast… Updated at 9.34am EDT 9.04am EDT 09:04 And here comes the rain, filing in from the north west. The players stroll in with Lancashire 105-2. Hopefully it will blow over quickly. 8.59am EDT 08:59 Durham not having their best day: 76-7. OUT!!! 6 for Craig Overton!!! WPA LIVE STREAM ➡️ 8.55am EDT 08:55 An enormous black aerial blanket is approaching Cheltenham college with intent. 8.46am EDT 08:46 A lunchtime email: hello there, Anthony Aldred. 'Today an inspiring group of young elderly men and women took part in a walking cricket festival at The Oval. All had a great time with laughter as well as a good competitive spirit. A long time ago some of my children played Kwik cricket for Send Cricket Club colts on The Oval outfield during the lunchtime of a West Indies Test Match. Not quite the same but now I have done it too. Walking cricket is brilliant. I stopped playing in my early 50s and never thought I would play again yet here I am at 78 performing on a Test ground. Opened the batting too!' Well done Dad! I hope there is video footage. Updated at 10.51am EDT 8.11am EDT 08:11 Going to hunt down some lunch, back shortly. 8.10am EDT 08:10 DIVISION ONE Southampton: Hampshire v Nottinghamshire 20-1 rain Taunton: Somerset v Durham 33-3 rain Hove: Sussex 69-4 v Essex rain Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Worcestershire 67-3 Scarborough: Yorkshire 82-0 v Surrey DIVISION TWO Derby: Derbyshire v Leicestershire 118-2 Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Kent 111-2 Cheltenham: v Lancashire 82-2 Merchant Taylors' School: Middlesex 90-0 v Northamptonshire 8.05am EDT 08:05 Some lunchtime reading, in the form of the new Hit for Six report The Danger Zone, six years after the first shocked Shane Warne into speaking out. Hit for Six: The Danger Zone focuses particular on India – and the extreme heat that some IPL games are played in. It reveals that 36 per cent of 2025 IPL matches were played in 'Extreme Caution' conditions, with an additional 12 per cent in the 'Danger' zone. It also reports that there has been a 125 per cent increase in hazardous heat days in Mumbai since 1970, with Thiruvananthapuram recording over 100 in 2024 alone. The report features voices from the Indian grassroots game, where there are none of the safeguards of franchise or international cricket. . 'All of us talk about it. My teammates and I are noticing that cricket doesn't feel the same. It's a bit scary because we don't know how bad it'll get. Mohammad Kaif, Wonders Club, Noida. You can access the report in more detail at the bottom of the page here. Updated at 9.02am EDT 7.49am EDT 07:49 Sussex dine four down, with two wickets to Khaleel Ahmed. And a wicket here at Cheltenham, as Jennings departs, disgruntled. Lancs 75-2. 7.34am EDT 07:34 I spoke to Rob Key (for the Cricket Paper) about the Kookaburra ball at the end of the last round. He was thoughtful about it 'The misconception is that we are using the ball because of the Ashes, but it is because we want the county game to replicate as much as possible the international game, where people bowl more quickly and with more skill on flatter, truer surfaces. It is a long-term vision.' 'It is a small change that has a big effect on the style of cricket played. What we are looking for is players who take on pressure and soak up pressure. We are obsessed with one to one coaching in this country but this is a game learned out in the middle, carving out runs.' On the tensions between cricketers/spectators/selectors 'If you want to get a result you probably do have to play a different kind of cricket. We are looking at the process rather than the results, which is different to the way the county DOCs look at things.' That it produces boring cricket: 'I often think that the way a game is played shows the intent of the team. If the ball is not doing much and you're scoring at two and a half an over, that's a mentality thing, and it depends on your attitude towards risk as a team. The games are not meant to be over in two and a half days.' On spinners.'We have a whole generation of spinners in the last 15 years who found themselves surplus to requirements, but if you look at the game between Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire [in the first of the Kookaburra rounds], Farhan Ahmed and Liam Patterson White bowled 110 overs between them.' Key's data deep dive showed that there was 25 percent more spin bowling in the first kookaburra round than there was in the round before. Interestingly, the decision on when and whether or not to continue with the Kookaburra lies with the county DOCs, who meet with the ECB at the end of the season. 7.20am EDT 07:20 Delays also at Taunton and Edgbaston. Here, off-spinner Todd Murphy wheels in, tea towel tucked into the waistband of his trousers. An excellent addition to the spinners in glasses club. 7.14am EDT 07:14 In Division One: Adam Lyth and Finlay Bean have taken Yorkshire to 56-0 against Division One leaders Surrey at Scarborough. Ethan Bamber and Ed Barnard chopped off Worcestershire's openers in the Midlands Derby at Edgbaston: Worcs 40-2. Durham have been briefly saved by the rain at CLS, Somerset's Craig Overton took two in two, Durham 33-3. GONE!! Craig O on a hat-trick!!! WPA LIVE STREAM ➡️ It is also raining at Southampton, where Notts lost HH early, to Eddie Jack. Notts 20-1. Sussex, who will be joined by 's Tom Price next year, on a three year contract, have lost three wickets this morning to Essex. Simon Harmer is already two overs into his work. Sussex 50-3. 6.58am EDT 06:58 With a reminder (thank you) from BTL that this is a Kookaburra round, a potter round the other Division Two games. Sam Robson and Max Holden have serenely taken Middlesex to 36-0 against Northants at Merchant Taylors'; Rehan Ahmed and Lewis Hill are making merry after Leicestershire's disastrous start, Leics 44-2; and Kent are fizzing along at five an over against Glamorgan, though they've lost Compton for 17. Kent 61-1. 6.47am EDT 06:47 Currently battling with a parasol to protect laptops from the mizzle. 6.38am EDT 06:38 Pleasingly enthusiastic applause as Wells edges behind off Akhter. Lancs 28-1. Updated at 6.38am EDT 6.31am EDT 06:31 Mark Ramprakash is a very thoughtful columnist. 6.29am EDT 06:29 There is, I'm afraid to report, some rain in the air here in Cheltenham. De Lange went off after a couple of overs and is, I think, still nursing something or other. Seagulls drifting about, a few pints making their way around the boundary edge. Lancashire 23-0. 6.13am EDT 06:13 Leicestershire's romp to Division One has hit further tacks in the road – currently one for two, with Budinger and Patel both gone for ducks. 6.03am EDT 06:03 And from the College Hall end, Ajeet Singh Dale, who was so impressive at Old Trafford earlier this season. Rumours are that he is soon headed to south London, though Lancashire were also interested. 6.02am EDT 06:02 A very enthusiastic tannoy announcer jollies up the crowd before play – and if you're thinking of coming along, bring your bank card as it is a cash-free ground. And here come , lead by Cameron Bancroft. Marchant de Lange takes the first over from the Chapel End – we were watching him in warm-up, he's built like a rugby player, all tree-trunk legs and oak-table chest. Rapid too, as Jennings edges him through the slips for four. Updated at 7.42am EDT 5.45am EDT 05:45 Looking out from the balcony at a barley sugar outfield, the clouds towering over Cleeve hill. Jimmy Anderson, still captain despite Marcus Harris' return, has won the toss and decided to bat. Overheard in the queue, Jimmy is the first knight of the realm ever to play at Cheltenham. 5.39am EDT 05:39 1 Leicestershire 157 2 Derbyshire 126 3 Glamorgan 124 4 111 5 Northamptonshire 108 6 Lancashire 102 7. Middlesex 99 8 Kent 89 5.39am EDT 05:39 1 Surrey 140 2 Nottinghamshire 139 3 Sussex 123 4 Somerset 117 5 Warwickshire 117 6 Durham 108 7 Hampshire 105 8 Yorkshire 91 9 Essex 88 10 Worcestershire 73 5.00am EDT 05:00 Part XXXXV…the votes are (starting to come) in: Surrey and Somerset have announced that they want 14 Championship games, with a return to eight teams in Division One and 10 in Division Two; Middlesex also want 14, but with ten teams in the top tier, while Durham and Lancashire support the 12/6 conference idea. The PCA, meanwhile, have put their weight behind the conference plan and a reduction in the number of games to 12, alongside a reduced Blast schedule. 'A change in format of the County Championship to 12 league games is the only reasonable option' said Olly Hannon-Dalby, PCA chair, breathing 'new life' into the competition. 5.00am EDT 05:00 Gary Naylor's excellent round-up of the Blast, as it goes into hibernation. 5.00am EDT 05:00 DIVISION ONE Southampton: Hampshire v Nottinghamshire Taunton: Somerset v Durham Hove: Sussex v Essex Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Worcestershire Scarborough: Yorkshire v Surrey DIVISION TWO Derby: Derbyshire v Leicestershire Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Kent Cheltenham: v Lancashire Merchant Taylors' School: Middlesex v Northamptonshire 5.00am EDT 05:00 Good morning! Torrential rain in Manchester (good luck for the Test …) has turned into thoughtful clouds above Cheltenham, at the start of this two-week late-July dip in the Championship waters. Fortified with porridge from the cafe opposite the station, I will follow the rucksacks to Cheltenham college. Play starts at 11am – do join us to rummage around cricket, the universe and everything.
BBC News
14 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Hurst hits ton to steady Lancashire against Gloucs
Rothesay County Championship Division Two, Cheltenham (day one)Lancashire 290-6: Hurst 105*, Bohannon 39; Akhter 4-64Gloucestershire: Yet to batGlos 2pts, Lancs 1ptMatch scorecard Matty Hurst registered a career-best innings of 105 not out to keep Lancashire afloat on the opening day of their Division Two match against Gloucestershire at a day when a majority of the recognised batsmen played themselves in but failed to go on, the 21-year-old right-hander from Billinge proved the exception to that rule, facing 165 balls, striking 10 fours and two sixes and sharing in an unbeaten stand of 81 with Chris Green for the seventh wicket as Lancashire reached stumps on 290-6. Hurst surpassed his previous highest score of 104 made against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge in May 2024, while Green offered staunch support, reaching the close on 28 not Gloucestershire deployed spinners for 43 of the 91 overs possible on a rain-affected day, it was pace bowler Zaman Akhter who enjoyed most success, the England A international claiming 4-64 as the home side took wickets at regular intervals to maintain pressure on their opponents. Making his first appearance at the Cheltenham Festival, Australian Test spinner Todd Murphy also caught the eye in returning figures of 1-53 from 25 with the unenviable task of creating wicket-taking opportunities with the Kookaburra ball, Gloucestershire's bowlers were further inconvenienced by the tight hamstring that forced pace fulcrum Merchant de Lange out of the attack after just two overs. His replacement at the Chapel End, Akhter extracted sufficient movement to locate the thinnest of edges and have Luke Wells caught behind for 18 as an opening spell characterised by much playing and missing culminated in Lancashire losing their first wicket with 28 on the the ball already softening and becoming less responsive, Gloucestershire captain Cameron Bancroft called upon Murphy's off-breaks in the 14th over, the advent of spin serving to slow the rate of scoring as Keaton Jennings and Josh Bohannon both treated the Australian Test bowler with the utmost caution. Murphy eventually lured Jennings into a front-foot indiscretion, Miles Hammond taking a superb diving catch at slip to remove the former England opener with the score 75-2 shortly before stage then appeared set for a period of uninterrupted accumulation as Bohannon produced the shot of the day so far, pulling de Lange through mid-wicket for a thunderous boundary to raise three figures. He and Marcus Harris advanced the score to 105-2 without incident and it seemed that only rain could impede their enough, a prolonged shower forced the players off and, having finally lost de Lange to injury following a further three tentative overs from the Chapel End, Gloucestershire were glad of an opportunity to regroup. Certainly, the home side profited from a 45-minute break in play, which caused the loss of five overs, striking a crucial blow immediately following the resumption. Without having added to his score of 39, Bohannon succumbed to a loss of concentration, giving Graeme van Buuren's slow left arm the charge and being comprehensively stumped by James Bracey as Lancashire slipped to continued to be their own worst enemies thereafter, Hurst surviving a run-out chance to Joe Phillips, whose throw from extra cover narrowly missed, following a moment of confusion with Harris. The incident may well have been playing on Harris's mind when he attempted to pull the next ball, only to top-edge a return catch to Akhter and depart for 29 with the score at his first Championship appearance since September 2023, Phil Salt announced himself with a brace of off-driven fours at the expense of Akhter to suggest a change in tempo. But his stay proved short-lived, the England T20 international pursuing an Akhter delivery outside off stump and falling to a brilliant one-handed diving catch from Bracey as Lancashire further declined to 160-5. Overcoming the loss of his fast bowling spearhead, Bancroft marshalled his resources with no little skill as Gloucestershire took the session. Lancashire only had themselves to in need of a partnership of substance, Lancashire were indebted to Hurst and Balderson, who applied themselves diligently to the task of redressing the balance after tea. Balderson lifted van Buuren over the long-on boundary rope to serve notice of intention, while Hurst went to a workmanlike half century from 96 balls, with six fours and a six as the partnership began to blossom, aided and abetted by an old ball and tiring Akhter, returning at the Chapel End, located Balderson's outside edge and the dependable Bracey held onto another catch behind, it felt as though Gloucestershire had accrued a bonus. Balderson contributed 26 in a stand of 49, the biggest of the innings so far. With the new ball due in another nine overs and Lancashire occupying uncertain territory at 209-6, the home side again had a spring in their and Ajeet Singh Dale strained every sinew to make further inroads with the new ball, only to be met by obdurate resistance from Hurst and Green, these two posting a 50 partnership from 91 balls for the seventh wicket and securing a batting bonus point into the was just time remaining for Hurst to go to his hundred via 162 balls, hitting Ollie Price through long-on for four to bring an appreciative festival audience of more than 2,000 to their supplied by ECB Reporters' Network, supported by Rothesay
BBC News
19 hours ago
- BBC News
Cheltenham e-scooter collision leaves child with head injury
A five-year-old girl required hospital treatment for a head injury after being hit by a man riding an e-scooter "at speed" on a foot Police said she had been walking along the Honeybourne Line, a former railway line in Cheltenham turned into a foot and cycle path, with two adults at about 12.30 BST on Monday when she was man was riding "at speed", the force added, and the the girl was knocked to the ground while the collision also caused the rider to fall off his an "exchange of words" with the adults, the rider left the scene without leaving his details. The force has issued a photo taken by a member of the public as the scooter ride headed in the direction of the train station, and is appealing to him to come who recognises him is asked to contact police.
