Marnus Labuschagne boosts Ashes hopes with another century for Glamorgan

Marnus Labuschagne's run fest continued at Sophia Gardens on Sunday as he scored his fourth century of the Championship season - in addition to four other half centuries - taking his seasons's tally to 938 and further making his case for a spot in Australia's squad for the Ashes.

With one more Championship game to play before Shaun Marsh returns, unless he is needed for the Test squad, Labuschagne has been a revelation which has helped Glamorgan rise to the top of Division Two after finishing bottom last season, 36 points adrift from ninth place with only 13 batting points.

He was well supported by David Lloyd, who scored 97 and Glamorgan, who are 354 for 6 will have their sights on a score in excess of 400, which will pose a formidable challenge for the visitors on a pitch already responding to spin.

They have already gained 27 batting points this summer with another one likely from this game, and if they can maintain this form for their remaining games, will be very much in contention for promotion at the end of the season.

Although Brett D'Oliveira restricted their progress by taking three quick wickets shortly before the new ball became due, Glamorgan would have been satisfied with their day's work in their first Championship appearance at Sophia Gardens for eleven weeks.

After an uncontested toss, Nick Selman and Owen Morgan, promoted to open the innings with Charlie Hemphrey on paternity leave, gave Glamorgan a steady start with a partnership of 80 for the first wicket before Morgan was out shortly before lunch for a patient 28.

Labuschange was immediately into his stride with a flurry of boundaries, and the second wicket pair had put on a further 75 before Selman, who is also in a rich vein of form this season after failing to score a half century last year, became the second Glamorgan player to be caught at second slip. Selman made 67, his fourth fifty of the summer adding to the 150 he made against Gloucestershire.

Labuschagne went on score 106 in a chanceless innings from 139 balls, which included a six and 13 fours, but his dismissal started Glamorgan's mid-innings collapse where D'Oliveira took three wickets for one run from nine balls.

The leg-spinner held on to a return catch from Labuschagne and bowled Billy Root, who played down the wrong line, before dismissing Dan Douthwaite leg before as the batsman played across a straight ball. Glamorgan captain Lloyd watched the wickets fall from the other end after he and Labuschagne had added a further 138 for the third wicket.

Lloyd, with his highest score of the season, and Tom Cullen then avoided any further alarms with a 51-run partnership, before D'Oliveira took his fourth wicket when Lloyd chipped to short cover in the day's penultimate over.