Glamorgan draw with Gloucestershire at Bristol

The Championship match between Glamorgan and Gloucestershire at the Nevil Road ground in Bristol ended in a draw, as Gloucestershire, needing 360 to win on the final day, ended on 280/7. Jonty Rhodes and Tim Hancock each made half centuries in a third wicket stand of 125 and for a while in mid-afternoon, a Gloucestershire victory could not be ruled out. But Glamorgan then claimed four wickets in twelve overs either side of tea, before a defiant 50 in two hours from Alex Gidman saw the home county to the safety of a draw. However, Glamorgan will not be too despondent at this outcome, as the ten points they picked up allows them to consolidate on their position in the promotion race into Division One.

Glamorgan had earlier batted on for a couple of overs in the morning before being dismissed for 291 to leave Gloucestershire their victory target of 360 in a minimum of 92 overs. A slash to the third man boundary off Jon Lewis by David Harrison had brought up the 50 partnership for the last wicket with Michael Kasprowicz. The Australian also clipped Lewis for two legside boundaries, before he was caught at mid-wicket by Tim Hancock off Martyn Ball for 25. David Harrison was undefeated on 39 with the merry 10th wicket stand being worth an invaluable 62 runs.

Had luck been going their way, Glamorgan might have taken four wickets in the first twenty five overs before lunch, and both of Gloucestershire`s openers might have gone in the first five overs. Firstly, Craig Spearman survived a difficult chance in the slips in Alex Wharf`s second over, before Phil Weston gave a sharp chance to first slip in Kasprowicz`s third over. But after Harrison had replaced Wharf at the Ashley Down End, he made the breakthrough as Weston edged to wicket-keeper Mark Wallace.

Craig Spearman continued to live dangerously, twice playing the ball in the air close to a fielder, but two overs after Weston had departed, Harrison dismissed Spearman as he slashed a ball straight into the hands of Dean Cosker who was fielding at point as a substitute for Matthew Maynard who had a bruised finger. Harrison might have dismissed Jonty Rhodes first ball, as the South African nearly chopped a ball onto his stumps. Then two overs later the Springbok edged an outswinger from Harrison just wide of a diving Jimmy Maher at second slip, before surviving another loud appeal for a catch as the umpires ruling in the batsmans favour.

Rhodes and Hancock brought up the 100 after lunch and despite both batsmen playing and missing several times, neither gave any further chances, and a pull for six by Rhodes off Harrison not only brought up the century partnership but also saw the South African to his fifty from 90 balls. Hancock, who had been content to play second fiddle, duly reached his fifty - his second half century of the game - from 124 balls with 7 fours.

The game changed complexion in twelve overs either side of tea, as 4 wickets fell for the addition of just 41 runs The 3rd wicket stand between Hancock and Rhodes had added 125 runs in 39 overs when Wharf returned at the Pavilion End and had Rhodes leg before playing across the line. In the next over Hancock was caught at short-leg by Ian Thomas off Robert Croft. The same combination accounted for Matt Windows in the first over after the interval. Ian Harvey then came in and made his intentions clear by immediately going onto the attack, hitting two consecutive fours off Wharf. But on 16 he was superbly caught and bowled by Croft attempting another firm drive as Gloucestershire slipped from 180-2 to 221-6.

Jack Russell and Alex Gidman then mounted a stubborn rearguard action, with Russell in his usual dogged fashion fending off the seam of Kasprowicz and the clever spin of Croft, whilst Gidman offered stout support at the other end. After seventy minutes of defiance, Russell was trapped leg before by Croft, but Gidman remained resolute through the final eight overs and with Martyn Ball, he saw his side to safety.