Glamorgan v Gloucestershire Specsavers County Championship - Match Report Day 1
10 September 2018
Gloucestershire ended the opening day on top in Cardiff on 133 for 5 at the close. This, after a superb bowling display from Gloucestershire seamers David Payne (4-25) and Craig Miles (4-42) had earlier dismissed Glamorgan for 137 in overcast conditions.
After an uncontested toss Glamorgan collapsed to 21 for 5 before Chris Cooke and Graham Wagg staged somewhat of a recovery with an 83-run partnership over 16 overs for the sixth wicket. With their wickets falling either side of the lunch break, Gloucestershire were able to finish the job with the ball.
David Payne said “it was not a flat pitch by any means, but if you put the ball in the right areas, you were rewarded. It was a good effort by them to recover from 21 for 5, and Cooke did play with a lot of intent. Now we need to build up a lead in the morning.”
Gloucestershire’s openers made a cautious start, taking seven overs to reach double figures before losing Chris Dent who was leg before to Hogan, then four overs later Miles Hammond departed in similar fashion to Ruaidhri Smith’s first ball. James Bracey (33) was part of a 50-run partnership with Benny Howell before he was caught down the legside by Cooke off Van Der Gugten, who three balls later dismissed Gareth Roderick, who became the sixth LBW victim in the game.
Howell top scored for the visitors with 43, but when Kieran Bull became the only spinner to bowl in the game, Howell mistimed a drive in Bull’s second over which resulted in a catch to mid-on.
Gloucestershire will be pleased with their opening day’s performance, and will look to pass Glamorgan and build a strong first innings lead on day two.
