County Championship: Gloucestershire fight back but Yorkshire remain in control

Ben Charlesworth's half-century was the ninth of his first-class career

Cameron Bancroft announced his return to Gloucestershire by scoring a much-needed half-century on day two of the County Championship Division Two match against Yorkshire.

Returning to the club he last played for in 2017, the Australian made a good impression, top-scoring with a patient 70 and sharing in a stand of 98 with Miles Hammond for the fourth wicket as Gloucestershire recovered from 28-3 to post 263 in their first innings.

After nightwatchman Josh Shaw fell in the fourth over of the day, Gloucestershire's regulars braced themselves for the anticipated collapse.

But, obdurate and resilient by nature, Bancroft had other ideas. Together with Hammond, they set about repairing the damage as Yorkshire's seamers, buoyed by their early success, sought to press home their advantage.

He suffered an uncharacteristic rush of blood to the head in the 68th over, attempting to drive Dan Moriarty and holing out to England's Joe Root, who took a well-judged running catch at deep mid-off.

No doubt disappointed to miss out on a hundred, Bancroft nevertheless contributed valuable runs in an innings that spanned 196 balls and just under four and a half hours, demonstrating the virtue of patience to his new team-mates.

Ben Charlesworth weighed in with an unbeaten 52 to keep the home side afloat, but front-line bowlers Ben Coad and Matt Fisher found reward for their persistence by returning figures of 3-44 and 3-65 respectively as Yorkshire forged a useful first-innings advantage of 63.

Openers Adam Lyth (39 not out) and Fin Bean (15 not out) then further improved Yorkshire's position, safely negotiating 11 overs beneath lowering skies to reach 57 without loss, a lead of 120, on a day when five overs were lost to bad light.

Without a win in red-ball cricket in 2023, Gloucestershire have their work cut out over the course of the next two days if they are to avoid defeat.

Report supplied by ECB Reporters' Network.