GLAMORGAN v GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Close of Play Report

Resuming after tea on 71-2, Miles Hammond joined Marcus Harris who greeted the return of Timm van der Gugten by straight-driving him for three but lDater in the over the Dutchman claimed his 200th first-class wicket for the Welsh county by trapping Hammond leg before. Harris though continued his steady accumulation on the slow surface by driving David Lloyd through the covers for four. But with the total on 92, van der Gugten had another l.b.w. appeal upheld against Graeme van Buuren before another brief stoppage for rain saw a further three overs shaved off the daily quota.

Harris again nurdled Lloyd for four through backward point before square-driving his namesake James as he completed a 113-ball fifty but with the total on 100, Oli Price also departed l.b.w. as he shouldered arms to van der Gugten. Eight runs later the Dutchman claimed his fourth l.b.w. victim as Jack Taylor returned to the pavilion. 108-6 immediately became 108-7 as James Harris removed his Australian namesake.

The new batter, Tom Price, then on-drove Harris for four before off-driving Harry Podmore when he replaced van der Gugten at the River End. Zafar Gohar also cover-drove Harris for four before off-driving Dan Douthwaite when he returned at the Cathedral Road End. Price also on-drove Podmore before van der Gugten returned for a final salvo and, with the total on 154, saw Gohar edge into Chris Cooke’s gloves. Price responded by cover-driving the Dutchman and straight-driving Douthwaite. The bowler responded by having Marchant de Lange caught at mid-on as he attempted a lusty drive.

Three balls later Ajeet Dale sparred a short ball from the all-rounder into Colin Ingram’s hands at third slip, leaving Glamorgan to face one over. Van der Gugten was swiftly back into action, as night-watchman as he played out the over from de Lange.

Teatime update

Play resumed at 1310 with 80.2 overs remaining in the day’s allocation, and extra playing time being allocated to play on Friday and Saturday. Harry Podmore and Timm van der Gugten continued the bowling duties but after three overs the precipitation returned and there was a further stoppage until 1410.

Chris Dent and Marcus Harris played watchfully against van der Gugten and Podmore who each delivered a probing new ball spell. The latter survived an early chance as he edged the Dutchman into and out of the hands of third slip, but to the last ball of the ninth over he feathered the delivery into Chris Cooke’s gloves.

5-1 saw the arrival of James Bracey who survived a loud l.b.w. appeal against Podmore who continued to probe away at the Cathedral Road End until being replaced by James Harris who in the 18th over was flicked to fine-leg by Bracey for the first boundary of the season. Later in the over, Bracey unfurled a pair of cover-drives before Dan Douthwaite began a spell at the River End. Bracey pulled the all-rounder for four before David Lloyd also had a trundle and was nurdled through point for four by Harris. But in the final over of the session, the home captain found the edge of Bracey's bat and Chris Cooke completed his second catch.

Morning update

Today is Maundy Thursday – the day when, in the UK, the Monarch distributes money to deserving senior citizens. It’s also the opening day of the County Championship competition for 2023 and the start of a competition so popular with the diehard cricket supporters across the country. It may not have the glitz or glitterati compared with franchises such as the Indian Premier League, but between now and the last week of September the yeomen of the professional game in England and Wales will be going head-to-head in this four-day competition.

For Glamorgan, 2023 will be an opportunity for the Welsh county to build on their successes in red-ball cricket last summer and convert last year’s third place into a top two position and promotion into Division One. For Gloucestershire, who were relegated from the top tier last year, their target for 2023 will be to bounce back into Division One.

After omitting Andrew Salter and Jamie McIlroy from their 13-man squad , Glamorgan won the toss and elected to bowl with Harry Podmore taking the new ball as Chris Dent and Marcus Harris opened the batting. But after four balls, a torrential shower of rain and sleet sent the players scurrying from the field. An early lunch will be taken at 1230 with play resuming at 1330.

Close of Play Report

Chris Cooke had arrived in the middle shortly before tea and had cover driven the last ball of the session to see Glamorgan to 261-5 and a lead of 96 runs, and he repeated the stroke in the opening over, delivered by Ajeet Dale. Billy Root also reverse-swept Zafar Gohar for four before completing an 81-ball fifty with a deft nurdle against Dale. He celebrated by off-driving Jack Taylor’s leg-spin for four before reverse-sweeping and square-driving Gohar for further fours. Cooke also biffed Gohar square of the wicket for four to bring up the 300 and another batting point.

The visitors took the new ball after 80 overs with Tom Price and Marchant de Lange returning to the fray and Glamorgan with a lead of 143 runs. Root cover drove de Lange for four before Cooke flicked Tom Price to the vacant ropes at square-leg. But in Price’s next over he trapped Cooke l.b.w. as Glamorgan lost their sixth wicket on 322. Dan Douthwaite was the new batter and he began with some firm drives for one’s and two’s, whilst Root continued his measured accumulation by flicking de Lange to square-leg for another four.

Douthwaite greeted the return of Ajeet Dale by pulling him for six to bring up the 350 and a third batting point. However, the burly all-rounder attempted another lusty blow when Graeme van Buuren entered the attack and he skied the ball into the hands of Marcus Harris at mid-on. 352-7 saw Colin Ingram, who had suffered a neck spasm after his diving catch last night, come in at number nine.

Ingram showed he had recovered by lofting Gohar for six over long-off as Root continued to work the ball around in the late afternoon sunshine but de Lange returned for the last couple of overs at the Cathedral Road End and made Ingram edge into the hands of second slip. With James Harris as his new partner, Root reached his deserved hundred from 166 balls by cover-driving the paceman

Afternoon Report

Having guided Glamorgan to 115-3 at lunch, Eddie Byrom completed his fifty from 103 balls by glancing Tom Price to deep backward square-leg followed by a flowing off-drive. Carlson then greeted the return of Ajeet Dale by on-driving him for four, followed by a pull for one which brought up the hundred stand and his 40th run but it could have also been his last as Gohar at backward square-leg juggled with and then dropped the ball.

Carlson celebrated his good fortune by on-driving Gohar for four before guiding Dale through point for four to complete his half-century from 68 balls. Byrom also pulled Dale for four before Carlson cut Gohar through point for another boundary, followed later in the over by a rasping pull to the ropes at mid-wicket as Glamorgan went into the lead. Carlson also straight drove the off-spin of Oli Price before Byrom pulled de Lange to the boards at mid-wicket. But the opener departed in the paceman’s next over as he carved a short ball straight to backward point where Oli Price took a smart low catch to end the stand which had added 160 in 36.5 overs.

The left-right combination was maintained as Billy Root joined Carlson and brought up the 200 by square-driving de Lange. Carlson greeted Tom Price’s return at the River End by on-driving him for four. Root then swept and cover-drove van Buuren for successive fours before cover-driving Price for four. He also went down the wicket to Gohar and lofted him for six prior to cover-driving Dale for four.

Carlson also opened his shoulders by on-driving Oli Price for six before reaching his eighth first-class hundred and second against Gloucestershire with a swift single into the leg-side having faced 128 balls. In the spinner’s next over he brought up the 250 and the first batting point by sweeping Price for four, but later in the over he was adjudged l.b.w. and departed for 106.

Lunchtime update

April 6th was the earliest-ever starting date for a Championship match at Sophia Gardens, beating by 24 hours the start of Glamorgan’s match with Durham last year. The inclement weather plus a mechanical problem with the hover-cover meant that just 62 overs were possible, but there was still enough time for Timm van der Gugten to claim a five-for, with the first wicket being his 200th in first-class cricket for the Welsh county. Four of his five victims were trapped l.b.w. as the Dutchman extracted some sharp lateral movement in the dank conditions and, with the rest of the seamers bowling well as a unit, Gloucestershire lost eight wickets for 94 after tea.

There was no time though for van der Gugten to put up his feet as, with a solitary over for Glamorgan to face, he was back out in the middle as night-watchman safely negotiating six balls from Marchant de Lange, before resuming this morning and eager to help his side make a resolute response in drier and sunnier conditions. Gloucestershire opted to open with spin this morning at the Cathedral Road End with Zafar Gohar operating in tandem with the seam of Tom Price at the River End. The choice of the left-arm spinner worked as in the fourth over van der Gugten skied a catch to Graeme van Buuren at deep mid-off.

7-1 saw David Lloyd make his way to the middle and he began by cover-driving Gohar for four with his aggression prompting the return to the attack of Marchant de Lange who was punched through point for four by Byrom. But, with the total on 24, Price’s accuracy was rewarded as he bowled Lloyd with Sam Northeast joining Byrom. He began with a pair of booming drives but in the pace bowler’s fifth over he also had his stumps re-arranged.

With the scoreboard on 35-3, Kiran Carlson was the new batter with Byrom off-driving and pulling de Lange to the square-leg ropes. Carlson brought up the fifty by square-cutting and nurdling Ajeet Dale for a pair of fours when he replaced Price at the River End. Byrom also pulled Gohar for four when he returned to the attack before crisply on-driving Dale through mid-wicket. Carlson also drilled Dale through extra-cover for a couple of fours.

Byrom then opened his shoulders to loft Gohar over long-on for six followed later in the over by another maximum over the ropes at mid-wicket. The flurry of runs saw the return of Price and de Lange but Carlson deftly clipped Price to square-leg for four. 

Close of Play Report

Gloucestershire were leading by 20 runs when play began after tea with Miles Hammond cover-driving James Harris before lofting Kiran Carlson to long-on for four. He continued his assault on Harris by playing him through backward point for four en route to an 81-ball fifty. But on 148 Marcus Harris departed l.b.w. for 148 as he attempted to reverse-sweep Carlson having put his team 60 runs to the good.

Graeme van Buuren replaced him in the middle before Hammond unfurled a rasping pull for four to bring up the 300. The new batter then cover drove Carlson but with the total on 311 Hammond went to pull and was bowled for 58. Oli Price joined him and pulled Carlson for three before van Buuren repeated the stroke for four against Douthwaite. With the total on 332 van Buuren was nearly caught at short mid-wicket by Carlson as he looked to on-drive Douthwaite, and four runs later the visiting captain nearly holed out tp Eddie Byrom at deep backward square-leg as he pulled the exasperated all-rounder.

The new ball was taken after 80 overs with the visitors on 340-4 and a lead of 101, as Harry Podmore and Timm van der Gugten returned to the fray. Price cover drove both bowlers besides edging the Dutchman to the vacant ropes at third man. Van Buuren also inside-edged van der Gugten for four to fine-leg before Price on-drove Podmore for four. But next over and with the total on 370, Price departed to an outstanding one-handed catch diving to his right at second slip by Sam Northeast.

Jack Taylor joined his captain with Gloucestershire leading by 131 runs but after a couple of overs, the light deteriorated and the players left the field with the visitors on 373-5.

Teatime update

Gloucestershire were 133-0 at lunch with Chris Dent and Marcus Harris having reduced the deficit to 106 The latter was soon finding the ropes again as he steered James Harris through backward point whilst the former cover drove and pulled Harris for further fours. But with the total on 161, Dent chopped a ball from Tim van der Gugten onto his stumps and departed for 78. James Bracey joined Harris with the deficit standing at the same amount and he had an early life when he edged Harris to first slip where the catch was spilled.

Marcus Harris cover drove van der Gugten for four before Bracey flicked Harry Podmore for four to mid-wicket. But in his next over Podmore gained revenged as Bracey edged to David Lloyd at slip. 188-2 saw Miles Hammond make his way to the middle before Harris completed his hundred by pulling Douthwaite for four – his 131st delivery and sixteenth boundary – and he added two more to his tally later in the over as he again hooked and upper-cut the all-rounder.

Hammond greeted the return of David Lloyd to the attack by driving him through extra-cover before helping Harris to wipe off the arrears in the 55th over. On 124 Harris had a life as he miscued a drive just out of the grasp of Podmore at mid-off. Hammond added two further cover-driven fours to his tally against Lloyd before Harris reverse-pulled Eddie Byrom in the penultimate over of the session,

Morning Update

Yesterday was indeed a Good Friday both for Glamorgan, as well as Kiran Carlson and Billy Root with both batters posting their first centuries since 2021 and helping to guide their side to 388-8 and a decent lead of 223 runs over Gloucestershire. Kiran also entered the Club’s record books by scoring the earliest-ever Championship hundred in a season, beating by four days Marnus Labuschagne’s record of having scored a hundred on 11 April against Northamptonshire at Sophia Gardens in 2019 – a match which had seen the Australian mark his Championship debut with a hundred and coincidentally also saw Kiran and Billy Root complete hundreds later in the day.

Gloucestershire were eager to quickly end the home team’s innings when play began this morning, once again, under clear blue skies but Root cover drove the first and third delivery from Marchant de Lange through extra-cover for four. However, Tom Price found the edge of James Harris’ bat with his brother Oli at second slip completing the catch. 398-9 saw the arrival of Harry Podmore and he secured the fourth batting point with a deft flick to square-leg for two, before skewing a drive against Price to Chris Dent at backward point as Glamorgan were dismissed for 404.

Podmore was swiftly back into action as he opened the bowling when Gloucestershire began their second innings 239 runs in arrears. Timm van der Gugten operated again at the River End with Chris Dent punching him through extra-cover for four before edging Podmore just short of third slip. Dent then steered Podmore for fours to backward point and fine-leg before Harris caressed successive balls from Podmore through the covers followed by an all-run four to deep mid-wicket.

Harris also straight-drove van der Gugten as well as glancing him to the ropes at long-leg whilst Dent found the boundary again as he steered Podmore through backward point for successive fours to bring up the fifty. Harris then on-drove van der Gugten for four before Dent greeted the introduction of Harris into the attack by square-driving him for four with Dan Douthwaite also being cover-driven for four by Harris who also nurdled his namesake to third man. Dent duly completed his fifty from 56 balls before Kiran Carlson entered the attack and was flicked for four to mid-wicket by Harris as the 100.stand came up. He then completed his fifty from 61 balls with lofted drives to long-on and long-off.

Close of Play Report

Glamorgan resumed after tea on 38-3 with Billy Root joining Eddie Byrom as Zafar Gohar and Marchant de Lange continued to bowl. Byrom pulled and square-cut de Lange for successive fours before Root guided him through point followed by a thick outside edge through the slip cordon. The pair also defended resolutely against Gohar.

Gloucestershire opted for an all-spin attack as Graeme van Buuren entered the attack after 22 overs but the two batters continued to defend as the overs ticked down and being surrounded by a gaggle of close catchers. Oli Price’s off-spin and Jack Taylor’s leg-spin were also employed but the pair of left-handers remained resolute with Root cover-driving Price for four as well as Gohar when he returned for a final salvo. But the two sides shook hands with nine overs remaining as the match ended in a draw.

Afternoon Update

Gloucestershire were 481-7 at lunch and a lead of 242 runs as Kiran Carlson and Timm van der Gugten resumed the bowling duties to Tom Price and Graeme van Buuren. The latter pulled van der Gugten for four whilst the former heaved Carlson to deep mid-wicket for another boundary, besides accumulating in a series of singles before van Buuren pulled Harris for four and then reached three figures from 191 balls by doing the same to Carlson. Price also cover-drove and straight-drove the off-spinner before hoisting him to cow corner for a pair of lusty fours.

Price then used the long handle to Harris as he clubbed him to long-on and wide mid-wicket for fours to complete a 60 ball half-century. Van Buuren then flicked Harris to backward square-leg for four before declaring at 14.50pm leaving Glamorgan a target of 331 in 160 minutes. Price was straight back into action with the new ball as David Lloyd and Eddie Byrom began the Welsh county’s innings, with Zafar Gohar operating at the Cathedral Road End. Lloyd on-drove Price for four but then flicked him into the hands of Marcus Harris at deep backward square-leg as Colin Ingram joined Byrom.

The pair played watchfully with Ingram off-driving and cover-driving Gohar before steering Price through backward point. But Gohar struck in his fourth over as he bowled Ingram as he played forward with Kiran Carlson joining Byrom but in the final over before the interval he edged a drive against Price with Jack Taylor at first slip parrying the ball before holding the rebound as Glmaorgan slipped to 38-3.

Morning Update.

After a magisterial 148 by Marcus Harris yesterday, Gloucestershire began the final day of this enthralling contest with a lead of 134 runs and five wickets remaining. For their part, Glamorgan’s bowlers who persevered throughout two and a half sessions yesterday had a relatively new ball, just ten overs old and were looking to quickly snuff off the remaining resistance in the cool and overcast conditions this morning and press for victory later in the day.

But the Gloucestershire batters enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges as Dan Douthwaite and Timm van der Gugten resumed the bowling duties with Jack Taylor securing an all-run four from the first delivery, courtesy of three overthrows. Graeme van Buuren also cover drove the Dutchman for four in his opening over. Taylor also struck successive fours against Douthwaite to long-off and extra-cover before van Buuren completed his fifty from 93 balls by pulling Podmore for four.

Taylor then clipped Podmore for four behind square-leg before despatching him through the covers for a rasping four, followed next ball by a deft late cut for four. But next ball he edged a drive into Chris Cooke’s gloves and departed for 38 as Zafar Gohar made his way to the middle with the visitors on 435-6.

The seventh wicket pair continued to stoutly defend as the lead went past the 200-mark before Gohar top-edged a hook against Harris which sailed over the fine-leg boundary for six. He also cut Harris for four followed by a flat-batted swipe over the head of cover. Van Buuren also pulled Harris for four before Gohar miscued a drive a sweep against Carlson into the hands of Andrew Saklter as Tom Price joined his captain with Gloucestershire’s lead moving closer to 250.