Credit to opposing captains Sam Northeast and Graeme van Buuren for injecting some excitement into a match that had lost its opening day to rain. They reached a gentleman’s agreement to make it a one-innings contest, which Glamorgan ultimately won by 192 runs.
Glamorgan declared at 381-4 after Northeast surpassed 1,000 runs for the season and Chris Cooke smashed two huge sixes off Oliver Price to complete his unbeaten century. This set Gloucestershire a target of 382 from approximately 82 overs, considering Sunday’s weather forecast.
With little to lose, Gloucestershire accepted the challenge. Joe Phillips, dropped early by Northeast, anchored the chase with a resilient 64, batting for nearly three hours before becoming the fourth man out. His partner Chris Dent was dismissed for a duck, caught by Colin Ingram off Ned Leonard.
At 46-2 after Oliver Price was bowled for 13 by Andy Gorvin, and then 92-3 following Miles Hammond’s departure, Gloucestershire seemed to be in contention as Phillips brought up their hundred. However, Glamorgan’s bowlers soon took control, with Gorvin (3-22) and Ben Kellaway (3-24) reducing Gloucestershire to 189 all out by 5:32pm.
James Bracey provided the only significant resistance after Phillips’ dismissal, scoring 49 before being bowled by Kellaway as the final wicket.
Earlier, Glamorgan added to their overnight score of 283-4. Cooke reached his half-century early, and Northeast crossed the 1,000-run milestone for the season. Cooke’s century, completed with two sixes in consecutive balls, took him to 121 balls, featuring 10 fours and three sixes. His partnership with Northeast added 171 runs before Glamorgan declared at lunch.
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