Glamorgan completed a six-wicket victory over Gloucestershire in their Specsavers County Championship match at Bristol, but they were made to work hard for their win after a defiant 120* from James Bracey delayed the Welsh county’s victory until shortly after six o’clock.
Evening Report
James Bracey’s stubborn century had seen Gloucestershire to 340/8 at tea, and a lead of 50 runs as Glamorgan strove to polish off their resistance on a wicket which had become docile and seemingly devoid of any assistance to the bowlers. Matt Taylor completed a career-best in the first over after the interval as he nurdled Lloyd to third man.
De Lange and Salter then had a spell in tandem with the former being driven over the head of gully by Taylor, but the off-spinner made the breakthrough as Taylor - on 48 - edged into Chris Cooke’s gloves with Gloucestershire leading by 72 runs. His departure saw Norwell appear with a runner and with restricted movement he stoutly defended. Bracey added another boundary to his tally as he on-drove Salter before carefully picking off some singles in a bid to protect his injured partner, but with the total on 372, Hogan bowled a brute of a delivery to Norwell which he edged into Cooke’s gloves, leaving Bracey unbeaten on 120, and Glamorgan a target of 83 runs to win with 21 overs remaining.
Nick Selman and Jack Murphy opened with the latter cover-driving Worrall for four before on-driving him for another boundary. Selman also guided the Australian to the ropes at third man before swatting Taylor for four to mid-wicket. Murphy also used his long levers to pull Worrall for three before Selman off-drove Taylor for four to bring up the 50.
One run later Murphy was caught behind attempting to hook Taylor, before Selman clipped Worrall to fine-leg for four, but Shaun Marsh became Gareth Roderick’s second victim as he gloved a pull against Worrall. 25 runs were still required when Kiran Carlson arrived in the middle, with the young batsman taking a blow to the head soon after as he tried to pull Worrall. A couple of overs later Carlson swatted another short ball into deep square-leg’s hands before two balls later Selman departed, still with 16 needed.
With the light starting to deteriorate Lloyd pulled Worrall for four before drilling the Aussie through mid-off for three. Donald then did the same for four before pulling Worrall for six over fine-leg to secure victory with 8.1 overs remaining.
Afternoon Update
Gloucestershire were 239/7 at lunch, still 51 runs behind with James Bracey having stoutly defended all morning to frustrate the visitors. But when play resumed after the interval, the new ball was just five overs away as Andrew Salter and David Lloyd briefly continued in tandem. Worrall clipped the off-spinner to long-leg for four before nearly miscuing a sweep to Shaun Marsh at square-leg. Worrall also cover drove Salter for four before the new ball was immediately taken with the home side trailing by 37 runs.
De Lange and Hogan duly returned with Bracey twice steering the former through point for four, whilst Worrall twice drove the latter through the covers en route to a maiden Championship fifty from 71 balls. But Lukas Carey returned to the fray and induced an inside edge from the Australian’s bat which cannoned into the stumps leaving Gloucestershire on 285/8.
Matt Taylor on-drove his first ball to the ropes at mid-wicket before a leg-side drive by Bracey erased the deficit. Taylor again clipped Carey to mid-wicket before twice doing the same to de Lange when he returned at the Ashley Down End, followed by an upper cut for four over gully against Carey. Bracey also pulled Hogan for four before Taylor cover-drove Lloyd for another boundary. Shortly afterwards, Bracey late-cut Lloyd to third man to complete his defiant and patient century from 274 balls.
Morning Report
Twenty years ago, Glamorgan commenced their Championship campaign as defending champions with a 141-run victory at Bristol, with the contest against Gloucestershire – then a three-day affair seeing a fine collective effort with Steve Watkin, Darren Thomas and Gary Butcher all amongst the wickets, whilst Adrian Dale and Steve James each posted solid half-centuries.
It has been a similar story for the class of 2018, with Shaun Marsh and David Lloyd completing majestic hundreds, whilst the pace of Marchant de Lange, plus the clever seam of Michael Hogan and Lukas Carey, have posed problems for the home batsmen. When the third wicket fell shortly after tea yesterday, with Gloucestershire were facing defeat inside three days, but the sixth wicket pairing of Ryan Higgins and James Bracey saw their side through to the close.
However, Gloucestershire were still 157 runs in arrears when play resumed in cool and blustery conditions, with plenty of batting still to be done to to prevent Glamorgan from winning their opening Championship game for the first time since 2014, and their first at Gloucestershire’s headquarters for ten years. Andrew Salter began at the Ashley Down End so that Carey could return to his favoured end, whilst de Lange returned at the Pavilion End,
Bracey cover drove Carey for the day’s first boundary whilst Ryan Higgins steered de Lange through point for three before edging Carey through the vacant gully position for four en route to completing his fifty from 65 balls. Hogan then returned at the Ashley Down End and was twice glanced to the ropes at fine-leg by Bracey as he also reached his fifty from 141 balls.
Higgins glanced Hogan to long-leg to bring up the century stand but next delivery he perished l.b.w. as he played half forward to the visiting captain. Kieran Noema-Barnett duly replaced him with the deficit standing at 106 runs. Bracey responded by square-cutting de Lange for four whilst Noema-Barnett began with a laconic cover drive for four against Hogan followed by a rasping square-cut against Carey.
On 57 and the total on 205/6, Bracey pulled Hogan to Shaun Marsh at square-leg, but after the two umpires had consulted, they ruled that the ball had not quite carried to the Australian. But without further addition, Noema-Barnett chopped Carey onto his stumps as Dan Worrall joined Bracey and off-drove Carey for three before nearly running out Bracey as they opted to scamper a quick single.
His good fortune continued as he inside-edged Carey to fine-leg before swatting the young bowler through point for four. The Australian also survived a confident appeal for l.b.w. before on-driving and cover-driving successive balls from Carey to the boundary boards. A pair of nasty short deliveries was Carey’s response before, with lunch and the new ball approaching, David Lloyd had a trundle at the Pavilion End.