Glamorgan 583-9 dec. beat Gloucestershire 417 & 162 by an innings and four runs (PTS: Glam 23, Glos 6)
Glamorgan claimed their first back-to-back innings victories for the first time since 1948 with a remarkable win over Gloucestershire at the Swalec Stadium.
For the second time in four years, Glamorgan conceded above 400 in the first innings against Gloucestershire and went on to win.
Having took a 166 first-innings lead, Glamorgan needed to take nine wickets on the final day and Dean Cosker’s 3-32 helped the Welsh county stroll to victory before tea. The 23-point win sends Glamorgan top of Division Two.
Glamorgan lost the toss and were asked to field first but the visitors healthy 417 was made to look a below-par score as Ben Wright’s first-class best 172 and Jim Allenby’s 105 were the chief contributors to Glamorgan’s third highest score against Gloucestershire. 583-9 dec. gave the home side a match-winning lead.
Gloucestershire faced a tricky eight-over period at the end of day three and Cosker bowled Chris Dent with the final ball of the day to send Glamorgan on their way. Gloucestershire folded miserably on the final afternoon with Robert Croft’s 2-51 wrapping up the comfortable win.
Croft had been linked with a loan move to Gloucestershire earlier in the week, but his performance in this match – only his second county championship match of the season – suggests he still has a big role to play for the county he has served since 1989.
By Alex Winter, at the Swalec Stadium
