Usne 118* runs ki shandar century maari aur Gloucestershire ki innings ko sambhala Northamptonshire ke against. Yeh unki third century thi sirf 5 matches me, aur ek strong signal bhi diya ki wo form me wapas aa gaya hai – perfect timing pe, kyunki agla mahina Lord’s me World Test Championship (WTC) final khelna hai.
Kal raat Gloucestershire 156/4 pe atka hua tha, kaafi mushkil situation thi kyunki Northamptonshire ne pehle innings me 469 run bana liye the. Green pehle cautious khela, thoda rusty bhi lag raha tha – 8 mahine ka break aur back surgery ke baad expected bhi tha. Lekin jaise-jaise settle hua, fir wo purane Green jaise dikhne laga – confident, stylish aur poora control me.
185 balls khelke usne 118* banaye – 3 bade six aur 8 zabardast boundaries maari. Wo continuously strike rotate karta raha, aur loose balls ko punish bhi kiya. Defensive technique aur attacking shots ka perfect combo dikhaya. Ye innings isliye bhi important thi kyunki Australia me uska role middle-order batsman aur part-time bowler ka hota hai – aur WTC final aane wala hai. Abhi tak Gloucestershire ke liye uska average 73.67 hai 8 innings me – matlab full consistent hai, aur zarurat padhi toh second innings me bhi kamaal kar sakta hai.
Is century ki wajah se Gloucestershire ne fightback kiya aur score banaya 379/8. Tabhi opposition captain Cameron Bancroft (Green ka Australian teammate bhi raha hai) ne declaration kar diya. Tab tak Gloucestershire abhi bhi 90 run peeche thi Northamptonshire se, par Bancroft chah raha tha match ka result nikle, kyunki match me pehle time waste ho chuka tha aur unki bowling bhi strong hai – specially leg-spinner Calvin Harrison, jisne 4 for 94 liya.
Harrison ne kaafi ache se turn aur bounce nikala pitch se, aur Gloucestershire ke beech ke batsmen ko pareshan kiya. Usne kuch important wickets bhi liye, lekin Green ne wickets girne ke baad bhi sambhal liya. Uski wajah se match ab bhi open hai – last din pe kuch bhi ho sakta hai.
Green ki yeh century sirf team ke liye nahi, balki uske liye bhi ek badi baat hai – back injury ke baad yeh prove karta hai ki wo wapas top level pe ready hai. WTC final India ya South Africa ke against hoga (abhi exact team decide nahi hui hai), aur Australia ko form me players chahiye honge. Green jaise khel raha hai, lagta hai Lord’s me wo ek key player banega.
Gloucestershire ke liye bhi Green ek jackpot raha hai – sirf 5 matches me 3 centuries maari hai, matlab English conditions me full adjust ho gaya hai. Jaise match Wantage Road pe final day pe ja raha hai, Green ne team ko ek moka diya hai fight karne ka – aur khud apna naam fir se world cricket me upar likhwa diya hai.
