Donald, who is playing in his first competitive match since September 2019 after back-to-back ACL injuries which forced him to learn to walk again twice, made a rapid 89 from No.9
Aneurin Donald used Ben Stokes as inspiration for his pivotal knock for Hampshire on day three of their LV= Insurance County Championship clash with Gloucestershire.
Donald, who is playing in his first competitive match since September 2019 after back-to-back ACL injuries which forced him to learn to walk again twice, made a rapid 89 from No.9 as Hampshire recovered from 76 for 8 and 103 for 9 to reach 204 second time around, setting their opponents a challenging 368 for victory at the Ageas Bowl.
The Welshman hit eight fours and three sixes in his 97-ball stay, sharing a 10th-wicket partnership of 101 with James Fuller.
Donald was the last man out, and revealed a sense of frustration not to climb to his first first-class century since July 2019, and only his fourth overall.
Aneurin Donald made 89 from 97 balls against Gloucestershire [Getty Images]
"I'm a little bit gutted I didn't get to three figures," he said.
"It is nice to get some runs in an important knock; that's the key thing in our batting group. It is key to score runs when we really need it and I like to think I've done that today.
"I've always been about attacking. Sometimes I'm not exactly sure what I'm thinking out there and I have to rein myself back in and let the coaches shout at me half the time to carry on.
"After seeing Stokesy's the other day I got inspired. The boys have been shouting at me for running one down to third man when I was on three sixes in a row but I was just playing the situation."
Donald dropped to No.9 after Hampshire used two nightwatchmen on Friday evening, and benefited from facing the older ball.
"I'm quite comfortable there. I'd like to see if I can get in there again in the next game as well."
Gloucestershire ended day three on 111 for 2, with 257 more needed for victory on a pitch which has done plenty for the bowlers at times.
George Scott, who ended Saturday unbeaten on 70, said: "We were a long way behind after the first innings and then we managed to get them nine down relatively quickly which put us in a really good position in the game but then they put on a partnership for the last wicket to bring it back in their favour."
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