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    Impressive seam bowling dominates day three

    25 June 2019

    Some impressive seam bowling saw Gloucestershire grab a narrow advantage on the third day of the Specsavers County Championship match with Glamorgan at Bristol.

    David Payne, Josh Shaw and Ryan Higgins ended with three wickets each as the visitors were bowled out for 287 from an overnight 187 for four, a first innings deficit of 26.

    Marnus Labuschagne contributed 65 and Graham Wagg 33, but it was a struggle for the Glamorgan batsmen with the floodlights on beneath heavily overcast skies.

    By the close Gloucestershire had made 41 for two in their second innings and led by 67, James Bracey unbeaten on 14.

    Play did not begin until 2pm because of overnight rain and Glamorgan found the going tough against a Gloucestershire attack giving little away.

    Payne, who had bowled without any luck the previous day, struck twice in an over to apply some pressure.

    The left-arm seamer sent back Labuschagne, caught behind off a thick edge, having added only nine to his overnight score, and four balls later had Owen Morgan, on five, caught at second slip by Miles Hammond.

    Labuschagne’s innings took his tally of Championship runs for the season to 769 at an average of 64. His dismissal left Glamorgan 201 for five.

    It was 204 for six when Morgan was out and 215 for seven when a loose shot from Tom Cullen saw him caught at square leg by Bracey off the bowling of Shaw.

    The second new ball was taken at 232 for seven, Wagg surviving a tough caught and bowled chance to Payne on ten as he and Dan Douthwaite took the total to 247 for seven at tea.

    Douthwaite fell for 23 in the final session, lbw playing across a ball from Higgins, having added 49 for the eighth wicket with Wagg.

    Marchant de Lange hit a big six over mid-wicket off Higgins, but then edged Payne through to wicketkeeper Gareth Roderick, who took a good catch, diving to his right.

    Without further addition, Wagg was caught at third man by Payne off a top-edge, looking to attack Higgins and Glamorgan missed out on a third batting point by 13 runs.

    Payne was the pick of the Gloucestershire attack with three for 90, well supported by Shaw (three for 61) and Higgins (three for 63).

    The pitch was still offering a bit for the seamers and the home side quickly lost skipper Chris Dent at the start of their second innings.

    With the total on three, he edged Michael Hogan to David Llloyd at first slip and departed for two.

    Hammond and Bracey took the score to 35 before a swinging delivery from Douthwaite beat Hammond’s forward defensive push and bowled him for 21.

    With their lead only 61, Gloucestershire could not afford to lose further wickets. They were spared that threat when the light closed in, even with the floodlights on, and the final seven overs were lost.

    Gloucestershire seam bowler David Payne said: "I feel I have been bowling well this season and today things came together for me. It is a good cricket wicket on which runs can be made, but there is also something for the bowlers if we keep hitting the right areas.

    "It was decided to leave a bit more grass on than usual because we need to force a win and it has worked pretty well. Both teams can go into the final day aiming for a decisive result.

    "We need to bat well in the first hour and take things from there. If we do that and end up drawing there will still be confidence to take into our remaining games."

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