Cosker helps Glamorgan turn the tide

A final wicket partnership between Dean Cosker and Huw Waters sparked a dramatic Glamorgan recovery on the second day against Gloucestershire at Swansea.

After resuming the day in real trouble at 64 for 6 in their first innings Cosker and Waters added 83 runs to take Glamorgan to 208 all out. In reply Gloucestershire struggled and finished on 91 for seven, 117 adrift on first innings.

Glamorgan had the better of the opening exchanges following a 45-minute delay to the start because of heavy morning rain. Ben Wright and Robert Croft, the seventh wicket pair, took their side from to 99 for 6 before seamer Ian Saxelby broke through, removing Croft leg before wicket with a ball which appeared to keep low.

Just as on day one Rob Nicol's part-time offspin proved profitable at times. In his first over he tempted John Glover into an attempted cut, only to be caught behind. But Cosker and Waters, who came together at 125 for 9, transformed their side's fortunes putting on 51 in 11 overs up to lunch.

Although the pair did a fine rearguard job for their side, Gloucestershire's spin attack of Nicol, Jack Taylor and one over of slow left-arm from Chris Dent was hardly threatening during the last half-hour before lunch.

Captain Alex Gidman turned to the seamers after the break but Glamorgan still managed to gain a bowling point when Cosker straight-drove Saxelby for four. But Cosker was left stranded one short of his half-century when Nicol bowled Waters for 39 to finish with figures of 4 for 53.

Glamorgan's productive day continued as they took regular Gloucestershire wickets, with the visitors finding themselves 28 for 2 at tea and 37 for four shortly afterwards.

In the fifth over of the innings Waters had Dent well caught at second slip by Stewart Walters and on the stroke of tea Nicol drove straight to Marcus North at short extra cover. The wickets kept coming. Dan Housego was bowled through the gate by Jim Allenby, and three overs later Cosker took a return catch via Gidman's leading edge.

It was 42 for 5 when Robert Croft struck in his third over to have Benny Howell caught via bat and pad at short leg by Walters. And in his next over Croft had Richard Coughtrie caught in similar fashion to Howell. It left the visitors 42 for 6.

Ian Cockbain and Jack Taylor seemed to have engineered a recovery, putting on 41 for the seventh wicket before Allenby had Taylor caught behind 19 minutes before the close. Hamish Marshall did not come in until number nine because of illness.