'It was a dream come true moment' - Ben Gibbon on picking his debut first-class wicket

A promising fast bowler, Ben Gibbon made his first-class debut for Worcestershire in their ongoing County encounter against Durham. He got the priceless scalp of a well-set Keegan Petersen in his eleventh over as one of his deliveries took the edge of the South African batter and flew straight to the hands of the Worcestershire keeper Ben Cox. 

On being asked about his feelings on making his debut and getting the wicket, Gibbon said that it was a dream come true moment for him to get featured in the playing XI of Worcestershire and the dismissal of Keegan Petersen made his experience even sweeter. He clarified that although it wasn't an ideal delivery to get a wicket, he would happily take it as this was his first ever wicket in red ball cricket.  

"To get that first wicket and just to play today, my first-class debut is a dream come true, really", Gibbons said. "Short and wide of off stump, but I'll take anything! It was a nice moment to get off and running with the first one," he further added. 

Continuing, Gibbon said that he was informed of his debut a day before the game, which made him excited as well as nervous at the same time. But as per the talented seamer, his nerves settled after bowling a couple of overs.   

"I got told yesterday I was going to play, and the feeling was of excitement, and the nerves started to kick in when I got to the ground this morning", Gibbon said. "It was a big day for me, a first-class debut, but as soon as I settled into an over or two, I was alright," the 21-year-old added. 

The left-arm seamer also admitted that he would have happily accepted his economy of less than three runs at the start of the day, as he finished the first day with the figures 17-4-50-1. Talking about the match, the young fast bowler said that although Durham batters had an exceptional outing, as a bowling unit, they would work harder and get the opponents dismissed early on Day 2. 

"I would have taken conceding under three an over at the start of the day, but just happy to be out there playing", Gibbon said. "A really tough day, they batted really well. They've got a good team, but I think the lads will fight back tomorrow," the Chester-born concluded.   

As it stands, Durham have scored 339 for the loss of just three wickets in their first innings at stumps on day 1.