Higgins heaps misery on Glamorgan
15 May 2019
At the end of the second day’s play against Glamorgan at Spytty Park we have a second centurion, Ryan Higgins.
Gloucestershire added 103 runs on the second day, ending their first innings on a commanding 463 all out. Glamorgan’s batsmen were troubled throughout finishing the day on 241/8 and needing 73 more runs to avoid the follow-on.
Higgins and van Buuren resumed batting this morning for Gloucestershire and it didn’t take long for the former to warm up. He hit 7 fours and 1 six in the first five overs of the day, quickly reaching a half-century. That partnership of 96 lasted until van Buuren was trapped lbw to van der Gugten for 25.
George Drissell and David Payne added nine runs between them before falling to Wagg and de Lange respectively. However, the damage was done at that stage as Higgins hit a quick century off 89 balls, finishing on 103.
CENTURY!!!
— Gloucestershire Cricket🏏 (@Gloscricket) May 15, 2019
Ryan Higgins has smashed his way to 100 off 89 balls with 12 fours and 3 sixes❗️
Gloucestershire have reached the 450 mark an are now 455/9 👏
Superb batting from @ryanhiggins21 #GoGlos 💛🖤 pic.twitter.com/wQMgnzjMvF
David Payne and Matt Taylor opened the bowling for Gloucestershire and immediately disrupted Glamorgan’s momentum. Payne picked up two wickets in the first three overs, trapping Selman lbw for 14 and then bowling Labushagne for a duck.
Payne said, "it was great for me to take the two early wickets, but we had some feedback from the batters, who said the new ball was important. We are in a good position but there is a lot of work to do over the last two days”.
Charlie Hemphrey and David Lloyd avoided a complete Glamorgan collapse by adding 95 for the third wicket before George Drissell deceived Lloyd, leading him to being stumped. That being his first wicket of the 2019 Specsavers County Championship. Then just before tea, Drissell added to Glamorgan’s misery taking Hemphrey lbw for 60.
Matt Taylor only allowed Billy Root and Jeremy Lawlor to contribute 18 runs each and then more misfortune befell Glamorgan when their captain Chris Cooke was forced to retire after injuring his ankle turning for a second run.
Cooke, who was Gloucestershire’s foil in their Royal London One-Day Cup fixture, was helped off the pitch in some discomfort and is unlikely to take any further part in this match-up.
Graham Wagg (45) and Timm van der Gugten (9) are the final pair remaining for Glamorgan and they will open play tomorrow morning at 11am.
