By David Green at Bristol
First day of four: Kent (94-7) trail Gloucestershire (142) by 48 runs
SEVENTEEN wickets fell here yesterday, all to seam bowlers, but umpires George Sharpe and John Steele were adamant that the pitch was in no way to blame for the carnage.
``The pitch had pace and bounce, but it was consistent,'' said Sharpe. ``The ball didn't seam or swing unduly. We shall be making a report to Lord's but won't be recommending an inspector's visit.''
This season there have been around 10 occasions when 15 or more wickets have fallen on the first day but in no case was fault found with the pitch, according to ECB cricket operations manager Alan Fordham.
Neither Kent nor Gloucestershire have batted well this season but stronger sides have looked out of their depth whenever the ball moves about, which must raise doubts over the quality of technique.
With the pitch having some grass on it and the atmosphere heavy, Kent's decision to field came as no surprise. Gloucestershire were shot out in fewer than 47 overs, Martin McCague and Julian Thompson sharing eight wickets.
Thompson, only playing because Mark Ealham and Dean Headley are on one-day international duty, took the first two wickets, Tim Hancock and Dominic Hewson both aiming at wide balls and edging to second slip.
Thompson did pretty well but it was McCague who threatened the most danger. He has sometimes bowled tentatively this season but yesterday he fairly steamed in, generating real pace with his strong side-on action and making everyone hop about.
Gloucestershire's top scorer Mark Alleyne (55), though missed off McCague when eight, 11 and 47, batted steadfastly for 168 minutes. No one else hinted at permanence, apart from Rob Cunliffe who played confidently until he chopped on.
Kent fared even worse. Ed Smith was undone by his namesake's inward movement, then Trevor Ward who is having a poor trot, was bowled second ball by Courtney Walsh, playing back to a ball of full length.
David Fulton hooked Walsh for two fours before slicing a catch to second slip. Alleyne held a fierce return from Carl Hooper and two balls later had Christopher Walsh, making his championship debut, taken at slip.
After Matthew Fleming had run himself out, Kent lost their seventh wicket when Alan Wells gloved a snorter from Walsh to Jack Russell. However, Steve Marsh and Ben Phillips partially restored their side's position with an unbroken stand of 39.
Day 2: Batsmen work it out
By Peter Roebuck at Bristol
Gloucestershire 142 & 212-3 v Kent 163
AFTER a clattering of wickets on the opening day that brought pitch inspector Harry Brind hurrying across came an aftermath of tighter cricket as Gloucestershire's young batsmen worked hard on a brown pitch whose bounciness had not survived the night.
Robert Cunliffe and Tim Hancock started the restoration with a determined opening partnership of 84, the highest in Bristol this season and the highest for Gloucestershire anywhere. Once they were parted Gloucestershire wavered but Mark Alleyne and Matt Windows took them optimistically to stumps with some sumptuous strokes. By nightfall the mood had swung in favour of the hosts.
Gloucestershire's openers began cautiously, as well they might considering the frailty of their team's batting and the significance of a match played between teams standing fourth and fifth in the table. Presently they started to unfurl their strokes, Hancock driving capably and his partner cutting and pulling and opportunity arose.
At last, though, a wicket fell, and others followed in swift succession. Cunliffe missed a drive, and Dominic Hewson was adroitly held at short leg by David Fulton, whose reputation thereabouts is growing. Nor did Hancock long survive his chums, sent away after taking cover under a bumper and leaving his bat aloft. At 129 for three Gloucestershire might have crumbled. Instead they regrouped, Alleyne playing some handsome strokes and his partner cutting busily and surviving a straightforward chance to Ed Smith at point.
As Gloucestershire's confidence rose so the lead taken by Kent earlier seemed less relevant. Both teams batted horribly in their first innings. At least Kent did recover; Steve Marsh and Ben Phillips taking them from calamity to mere discomfort. Kent had reached 138 for seven before Phillips swished at Alleyne, part of an attack that appears unaffected by the aches and pains that take such a toll elsewhere. Julian Thompson now appeared to help his team into a lead before playing fatally back to Courtney Walsh's loosener.
Martin McCague played his part too. To see him back was a pleasant surprise, for he has all the insecurities of a man without roots. Here he held on until his captain worked across an outswinger whereupon the hosts batted with unsuspected substance.
Day 3: Windows celebrates cap
By David Green at Bristol
Third day of four: Kent (163 & 83-2) require a further 353 to beat Gloucs (142 & 456)
KENT, chasing 436 for victory, a massive task even on a pitch from which the first day's pace and bounce has completely departed, have much to do today to prevent Gloucestershire recording their seventh championship win.
Both sides played poorly against quality bowling in their first innings but in their second Gloucester, heartened by an opening stand of 84, their highest this season, between Tim Hancock and Rob Cunliffe, for once batted like championship contenders.
The self-destructive wafts at wide balls were no longer in evidence as captain Mark Alleyne and Matt Windows, the latter capped along with Jon Lewis at lunch on Friday, added 185 runs for the fourth wicket in 52 overs.
Alleyne's 83, made off 143 balls with 14 fours, was chanceless but Windows, whose 103 was his third championship century this season, was dropped on 16 and 45, both times cutting uppishly towards gully, a fault to which his bat's open face makes him prone.
Kent captain Steve Marsh might have adjusted his fields for these players, for Alleyne drives mainly between extra cover and mid-on but Windows drives square, while Windows generally cuts well behind square and Alleyne in front. Windows hit 11 fours in a sparkling display. In the circumstances - pitch flat, big field to defend - Kent's bowlers kept going well, none better than pacemen Martin McCague and Julian Thompson.
McCague again bowled fast and straight, while Thompson's outswing reduced Gloucestershire from 338 for four to 369 for seven, only for Jack Russell to make a rapid 41, after which the last wicket pair added an irritating 55.
When Kent batted, Ed Smith survived some uncomfortable moments against Courtney Walsh to reveal a pleasant upright method. David Fulton struggled, however, and edged Mike Smith to Alleyne at second slip, while just before the close Lewis found Smith's outside edge to give Russell his 800th dismissal for Gloucestershire.
Day 4: Hooper's hundred fails to halt Gloucestershire
By David Green at Bristol
Gloucestershire (142 & 456) bt Kent (163 & 297) by 138 runs
DESPITE a century of the highest quality from Carl Hooper, Gloucestershire whittled away doggedly at Kent's batting yesterday to earn their seventh County Championship win of the season and retain an outside chance of taking the title.
Kent, handicapped by the absence of Dean Headley and Mark Ealham on one-day international duty and Robert Key with England under-19's, were outplayed for the last three days, unreliable batting once more proving their Achilles' heel.
With the pitch slow and low, in marked contrast to its pace and life on the first day, Gloucestershire's attack had to work hard, handicapped as they were by Mark Alleyne's calf injury which prevented him from bowling.
However, Courtney Walsh, though taking only two wickets, was always menacing, and Alleyne astutely switched his bowlers, keeping them fresh and his opponents off-balance.
When Kent resumed in the morning at 83 for two their victory target was still 353 runs away. A draw seemed the most they could hope for but Trevor Ward was in positive mood, dealing roughly with Jon Lewis. Lewis, though, had his revenge when Ward, not the first nor the last batsman in this match to aim a straight ball through midwicket, was leg before. Enter Hooper, orthodox and elegant, to make a watchful start.
At the other end, Ben Phillips hit fatally across a Tim Hancock full toss and Alan Wells, aiming to sweep, was athletically caught at short mid-off, but Hooper by now was playing with power and authority.
Just before Wells's dismissal Hooper had pulled, off-driven and straight-driven Hancock for three fours in an over. He now turned on Martyn Ball, pulling a four to midwicket then driving him straight for six.
Hooper's fifty came at a run a ball with eight fours and a six, but after Walsh had had his namesake Chris caught at short leg, Hooper throttled back slightly in partnership with a restrained Matthew Fleming.
The pair had put on 65 when Fleming gave Hancock a low return catch. When Hooper, having hit 14 fours and a six off 131 balls, drove Dominic Hewson's slower ball to extra cover the end was in sight.
Home supporters' nerves jangled when drizzle set in after tea with nine Kent wickets down. Seven overs were lost but in the first one after the restart Martin McCague thin-edged an attempted hook and Gloucestershire were home.