Fightback Bancroft leads from the front as county look for draw

CUPS ROUND-UP Openers set up shock County Cup triumph

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KIPPER Cameron Bancroft batted through all three sessions to score 170 not out and lead a strong Gloucestershire fightback on the third day of the Rothesay County Championship Division Two game with Derbyshire at Bristol.

Unbeaten on 32 overnight, the Australian, right, faced 337 balls, struck 16 fours, and shared an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 205 with his predecessor as the county's skipper, Graeme van Buuren, who ended the day 105 not out in a second innings total of 364-3.

Having been outplayed on the opening two days, Gloucestershire are 153 in front with seven wickets still in hand, and have every chance of securing a draw.

Miles Hammond made 44 on a day of frustration for a Derbyshire bowling attack unable to summon any meaningful assistance from a flat pitch.

The hosts began the day on 62-1, needing a further 149 to avoid an innings defeat.

Zak Chappell made an early breakthrough with the total on 72, Price, on 20, top-edging a pull shot to fine leg where Jack Morley took an excellent catch.

That was as good as it got for the visitors in the morning session. Bancroft and Hammond by lunch had taken the total to 153-2, cutting the deficit to 58 runs.

Hammond was visibly annoyed to lose concentration with only six runs added, slog-sweeping a ball from off-spinner Thomson straight to Morley at deep mid-wicket.

Van Buuren joined Bancroft in a stand that had added 97 by tea.

Bancroft went to his hundred having faced 202 deliveries.

By tea, Gloucestershire had posted 256-3 and led by 45 runs. The final session saw van Buuren go to 50 while Bancroft maintained exemplary concentration to reach 150 off 294 balls.

By then, Gloucestershire’s lead had stretched beyond 100 and there was no sign of Derbyshire regaining their grip on the game.