Cricket

Gloucestershire's Ben Charlesworth produced a magnificent century to lead a spirited fightback against Leicestershire on the second day of their Vitality County Championship Second Division clash at Bristol.Charlesworth, 23, notched his second first-class ton off 164 balls, adorned with 14 fours and three sixes, as Gloucestershire reached 227 for 3 by the time bad light ended play seven overs early. James Bracey remained unbeaten on 34.Leicestershire had earlier posted 402 all out, with Liam Trevaskis (50) and Tom Scriven (60) contributing valuable runs. Zaman Akhter claimed 3 for 110 for Gloucestershire.Despite the blustery conditions, Charlesworth and Cameron Bancroft put together a solid opening stand of 50. Bancroft departed for 39, but Charlesworth continued to impress, reaching his half-century off 96 deliveries.Ollie Price joined Charlesworth and made a brief contribution of six before edging to wicketkeeper Peter Handscomb. However, Charlesworth and Hammond put on a 65-run partnership, with Hammond showcasing some flamboyant shots.Green provided a crucial breakthrough, trapping Hammond lbw for 29. Charlesworth survived a scare on 77 but soon reached his century with two towering sixes off Trevaskis.Bracey provided steady support, but with rain looming, it remains to be seen if either team can force a decisive result on a pitch that has favored the batters.

Gloucestershire's young guns, Oliver Price and Ben Charlesworth, orchestrated a thrilling five-wicket triumph over arch-rivals Somerset in a Vitality Blast derby encounter at the Seat Unique Stadium in Bristol.Somerset, the defending champions, posted a formidable 188 for 4 after losing the toss, thanks to a high-octane 79 from Tom Banton. Banton dominated crucial partnerships with Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Tom Abell, smashing eight fours and three sixes.Gloucestershire's chase got off to a solid start with Miles Hammond crashing three boundaries in the third over. However, Riley Meredith's yorker dismissed Cameron Bancroft, and Roelof van der Merwe bowled Hammond for 39.With rain threatening, Gloucestershire needed to keep up with the required rate. James Bracey and Charlesworth staged a 41-run stand, but Somerset's spinners, van der Merwe and Jack Leach, struck back to leave Gloucestershire reeling at 106 for 4.Enter Price and Charlesworth. The young duo unleashed a blistering unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 82 in just 32 balls. Price top-scored with 43 from 15 deliveries, including four sixes and three fours, while Charlesworth contributed a 19-ball 36 with two sixes and four fours.Their aggressive hitting propelled Gloucestershire to victory with eight balls to spare, sending a sell-out crowd of 7,000 into raptures. The win improved Gloucestershire's prospects of reaching the knockout stages, while Somerset missed out on a chance to take over leadership of the South Group.