Gloucestershire reach 301/6 at the close of play at Swansea

Yesterday was a memorable day for both English and Pembrokeshire cricketers. Whilst Stuart Broad had a day to remember in the Ashes Test at Trent Bridge, two of Glamorgan's players born in the West Walian county had a red letter day as they shared a stoic and unbroken ninth wicket stand which wrested the initiative away from Gloucestershire during the final session.

Earlier in the day, the visiting seam and swing bowlers had found plenty of assistance in the unique microclimate which is present at the maritime ground but, after tea, Andrew Salter and Kieran Bull added 85 in 31.2 overs without being parted to put the Welsh county into a decent position on a wicket which is likely to assist their spin bowling later in the game.


As a result, Salter was unbeaten 73 and Bull on 21 - both career-bests - as Glamorgan resumed on 271/8, just eight runs shy of the par score for the first innings at Swansea during the last eight seasons, and twenty nine away from a third batting point which earlier in the innings had looked a remote possibility. But after Bull had flicked the second ball of the morning from David Payne to fine-leg for four, Salter edged the final ball of the over nto third slip.


But there was further fight from the Glamorgan tail as Michael Hogan came in and cover drove his first ball for two, before straight driving Liam Norwell for four. Bull also square-drove Payne for four before Hogan despatched Norwell over mid-off for a massive six before Bull edged Payne to the wicket-keeper as Glamorgan fell one run short of a third bonus point.


Chris Dent and Will Tavare opened the batting for the visitors with the latter striking Graham Wagg for successive fours to square-leg followed by a mnore orthodox boundary through extra cover.before the former scythed Wagg over the heads of the slip cordon. But the introduction of Craig Meschede in the ninth over ended the opening stand as, playing back, Dent deflected a ball onto his stumps.


Gareth Roderick began with a couple of straight driven fours, before bringing up the fifty by twice on-driving Meschede to the mid-wicket ropes from successive deliveries, but Wagg switched to the Pavilion End and ended Roderick's stay as he sparred outside off stump at a rising delivery, with Colin Ingram at first slip completing the regulation catch.


Tavare responded by square-cutting Wagg for four anf three before the off-spin of Salter and Bull was employed shortly before lunch,

After a couple of exploratory overs of spin before lunch, Michael Hogan and Graham Wagg resumed the bowling duties with Benny Howell edging the first ball of the session from Hogan high over the slip cordon for four, whilst Will Tavare clipped Wagg's first delivery to the ropes at square-leg. Howell then had a life with the total on 91 as Salter at point spilled a chance as Howell drove uppishly at Hogan.


Tavare then square-cut Wagg for four before Howell pulled Hogan for four to bring up the hundred in the 29^th over. Salter then returned to the attack and was driven straight for six by Howell, but in his next over, he snared Tavare as he propped forward and was caught at short-leg. 111/3 saw Hamish Marshall make his way to the middle, before opening his account by cover-driving Salter.


The Kiwi, who is still recovering from a calf injury, also top-edged a sweep just over the head of slip as he attempted another assertive blow against the off-spinner before drilling Craig Meschede through the covers and over backward point for four when the all-rounder returned at the Mumbles Road End. Howell also cover drove the on-loan player before splicing him over the slips for another four


Colin Ingram's leg-spin was then employed with Marshall top-edging his first delivery over the slip fielder, before Kieran Bull replaced Salter at the Pavilion End. After a couple of frugal overs, Marshall pulled a full toss for the youngster for four before square-cutting the next ball for four. He then pulled the off-spinner for another four en route to completing a 58-ball fifty., before celebrating with a four to third man when Wagg briefly returned but after two balls he departed with a leg strain.


A late cut for four saw Howell complete his fifty from 117 balls shortly before tea prior to steering Will Bragg to third man for four when he delivered the final over before tea at The Pavilion End..

Gloucestershire resumed on 219/3 after tea with Hamish Marshall and Benny Howell having shared a century stand during the afternoon. With Graham Wagg still off the field with a hamstring injury, Craig Meschede and Michael Hogan resumed the bowling duties but at first, neither could break the patient stand as Marshall continued to hobble singles and crisply put away any bad balls. His mobility was further impaired by a blow just above his right knee against Meschede but next over he unfurled a high-class off-drive for four against the all-rounder.



Howell continued his watchful accumulation by clipping Hogan to square-leg for four before Andrew Salter returned at the Pavilion End. However, it was the persevering Hogan at the Mumbles Road End who finally ended Marshall's innings as he again rapped the Kiwi on the pads and had the l.b.w. appeal upheld with Gloucestershire on 240/4. Five runs later, Meschede returned and had Howell caught behind with his first delivery as the Gloucestershire batsman attempted a cut.


Miles Hammond and Kieran Noema-Barnett then joined forces with the latter on-driving Salter for four, but their partnership proved to be a brief one as Meschede had Noema-Barnett caught at third slip with the total on 263. Jack Taylor announced his arrival with a booming off-drive against Salter before dabbing the spinner to third man. Both batsmen cover drove Meschede, with Taylor also pulling a short ball for four followed next ball by a straight driven four.

Shortly before the close Hogan returned for a final salvo but the seventh wicket pairing held firm as the visitors secured their third batting point in the penultimate over of the day