Edavalath lifts Worcestershire response after Allison five-for

Key Highlights

• 1 overs, their last five wickets falling to seam on a sluggish surface that continued to render batting a challenging business.
• 01ReportStaunch half-century enables visitors to take lead after Gloucestershire skittled for 150A general view of Cheltenham during the County Championship match against Worcestershire • Getty ImagesWorcestershire 205 for 7 (Edavalath 63) lead Gloucestershire 150 (Boorman 60, Allison 5-19) by 55 runs Rehaan Edavalath proved an unlikely hero as Worcestershire assumed the upper hand on day two of the Rothesay County Championship Second Division match against Gloucestershire at Cheltenham.
• An injury replacement for wicketkeeper-batter Gareth Roderick, the inexperienced right-hander demonstrated a cool head to register a career-best 63 as Worcestershire mustered 205 for 7 in reply to Gloucestershire's first-innings 150.
• The home side under-achieved in their first innings, scuppered by Ben Allison's career-best return of 5 for 19.
• Bowling with rhythm and impressive pace, Allison wrapped up the innings, accounting for tailenders Aman Rao and Williams in quick succession to eclipse his previous best first class return of 5 for 32 for Essex against Northamptonshire in 2022.

Edition PKDay 2 - Worcs lead by 55 runs.

Current RR: 3.

01ReportStaunch half-century enables visitors to take lead after Gloucestershire skittled for 150A general view of Cheltenham during the County Championship match against Worcestershire • Getty ImagesWorcestershire 205 for 7 (Edavalath 63) lead Gloucestershire 150 (Boorman 60, Allison 5-19) by 55 runs Rehaan Edavalath proved an unlikely hero as Worcestershire assumed the upper hand on day two of the Rothesay County Championship Second Division match against Gloucestershire at Cheltenham.

An injury replacement for wicketkeeper-batter Gareth Roderick, the inexperienced right-hander demonstrated a cool head to register a career-best 63 as Worcestershire mustered 205 for 7 in reply to Gloucestershire's first-innings 150.

He staged a crucial stand of 79 with Brett D'Oliveira, who was 49 not out when bad light brought a premature end to the action with 18 overs remaining and Worcestershire 55 runs ahead.

Indian slow left armer Sai Kishore claimed 3 for 56 on debut and Will Williams and Ed Middleton took two wickets apiece as Gloucestershire kept themselves in the hunt.

The home side under-achieved in their first innings, scuppered by Ben Allison's career-best return of 5 for 19.

Resuming on 107 for 5, Gloucestershire added only another 43 runs in 16.

1 overs, their last five wickets falling to seam on a sluggish surface that continued to render batting a challenging business.

Disciplined Worcestershire applied pressure from the outset, Matthew Waite extracting movement off the seam to bowl Daz Ahmed through the gate before Beyers Swanepoel beat Ed Middleton with a ball that kept low and took out off stump.

Stuck on his overnight score of 51 for 30 minutes, Tommy Boorman broke the spell with a six over square leg, only to then be hurried by a Swanepoel bumper and fend to backward point, departing for a career-best score of 60.

With him went Gloucestershire's best chance of staging a recovery.

Bowling with rhythm and impressive pace, Allison wrapped up the innings, accounting for tailenders Aman Rao and Williams in quick succession to eclipse his previous best first class return of 5 for 32 for Essex against Northamptonshire in 2022.

Worcestershire negotiated a tricky 45-minute session prior to lunch for the loss of Dan Lategan, pinned lbw by a ball that straightened from Kishore.

Report

Worcestershire 205 for 7 (Edavalath 63) lead Gloucestershire 150 (Boorman 60, Allison 5-19) by 55 runs

Desperate to make the new ball sing, Gloucestershire were indebted to Williams, who had Jake Libby caught at the wicket for 20 and Adam Hose adjudged lbw in the space of two overs from the Chapel end as Worcestershire slipped to 69 for 3.

But the home side were unable to find a chink in Edavalath's armour, the 22-year-old Loughborough University student demonstrating sound technique in a thorough examination at the hands of Kishore, who sent down 25 overs, including nine maidens.

Originally reported by ESPN Cricinfo. TechVeb news desk.