Cosker limits Gloucestershire advantage

Gloucestershire 230 for 9 (Dent 52, Cosker 5-46) lead Glamorgan 145 (Wagg 54*, Payne 3-29, W Gidman 3-34) by 85 runs
Scorecard

A five-wicket haul from veteran spinner Dean Cosker helped Glamorgan remain in touch with Gloucestershire after day two of their Division Two clash in Cardiff.

Gloucestershire looked on course to rack up an imposing first-innings lead, even after being frustrated by a battling 54 from Graham Wagg which took the hosts to 145.

Chris Dent made 52 and William Tavare 42 as the visitors' reply started well, but they came unstuck against a 36-year-old slow left armer. Cosker completed his 10th first-class five wicket haul, recording figures of 5 for 46 as Glamorgan limited their opponents to 230 for 9, a lead of 85.

There looked little way back for Glamorgan as they slumped from 47 for 6 at the start of the day to 72 for 9, but a final stand of 73 between Wagg and No. 10 Michael Hogan helped them rebuild their innings. Wagg hit five fours and a six in his unbeaten 65-ball knock, with Hogan providing vital support at the other end for his 23.

The stand was finally ended by Matt Taylor, while Will Payne and Will Gidman finished the innings with figures of three for 29 and three for 34 respectively.

With an easy-paced pitch becoming ideal for batting, Gloucestershire would have fancied their chances of building a commanding lead and looked set to do just that as Dent and Tavare took their score into three figures for the loss of just one wicket, that of Michael Klinger for 2.

But Cosker arrived with a vengeance to halt their progress. He had Dent caught behind by Mark Wallace, ending his 72-ball stay, and then removed Tavare, who paid the price for a daft shot, sending an attempted clip over Hogan at mid-on straight to the fielder.

Cosker was making full use of his experience, varying his deliveries intelligently, and had his third victim when he trapped Alex Gidman lbw for 12. The dismissals of Will Gidman and Hamish Marshall gave Cosker his five-for, although the latter's 32, which included two sixes, helped the visitors recover from 144 for 6.

Hamish shared a partnership of 42 for the seventh wicket with Tom Smith, who finished the day unbeaten on 38.