Glamorgan slip to 47/6 before rain and bad light bring an early finish at Cardiff

Whilst it's Judgement Day at the Millennium Stadium with a series of totemic clashes which will help to decide the destination of Welsh rugby's silverware, Glamorgan's cricketers were looking to build on their fine start to the Championship season following their ruthless and clinical ten-wicket victory over Surrey. They duly made one change to their line-up from the win at The Kia Oval with Jacques Rudolph replacing Chris Cooke as Will Bragg and Gareth Rees opened the batting and looked to repeat their second innings success a fortnight ago when they added 156 in 45.4 overs to see their side to victory.

But Rees departed to the first ball of the game as he edged Will Gidman into the gloves of wicket-keeper Cameron Herring, and Bragg had an early scare as well as in Matt Taylor's opening over he cut a short ball from the left-armer just over the outstretched hands of second slip. But there was nothing fortuitous about his second and third boundaries as in the space of three balls he unfurled a pair of booming off-drives in Taylor's second over.

Glamorgan lost their second wicket with the total on 18 as Gidman struck again in his third over as he trapped Walters leg before. Rudolph then made his way out to the middle to join Bragg, and secured a couple of singles before edging Gidman just short of first slip where his elder brother Alex was positioned. After despatching James Fuller for four through mid-off, Bragg then clattered David Payne's first delivery through backward point for four.

But with the total on 33, Gloucestershire secured their first bowling point as Bragg miscued a stroke against Taylor and Michael Klinger, at mid-off, lived upo to his surname by taking a fine catch diving forward, grasping the ball with his arms outstretched in front of him inches above the turf. Three runs later, Payne clean bowled Rudolph before Jim Allenby announced his arrival at the crease by clipping Payne to the ropes at mid-wicket.

Murray Goodwin also secured a boundary as he steered a ball from Payne through the gully but the bowler made immediate amends as the veteran edged his next ball to first slip. 47/5 immediately became 47/6 as Mark Wallace departed leg before and just as Graham Wagg was getting ready to face the hat-trick ball, the heavens opened and the players left the field.

Further spells of rain after lunch prevented any play before tea, with the umpires calling for an early tea at 3.10pm, at which time a further inspection was also made. But just as Nigel Llong and Martin Bodeham were making their inspection, the precipitation started again and the covers came back on.

The rain ceased around 3.30pm raising the prospect of a resumption at 4.10pm , but just as the players were warming up the rains came back and the hover cover, plus the protective sheets, came back onto the square. the rain continued until just before 5.45pm when the umpires called off play for the day.