The winning streak continues with victory over Glamorgan in the LV= CC
9 August 2015
Gloucestershire picked up their fifth win of the LV= County Championship Division Two campaign after easily knocking off their target of 108 against Glamorgan with seven wickets left.
Although 15 overs were lost to rain before lunch, Chris Dent managed a half-century, as his 65 not out helped steer Gloucestershire home in 36.5 overs, extending their unbeaten run to nine completed matches in all competitions.
When play began, Will Tavare struck Craig Meschede for two successive fours in his first over, but thereafter the opening bowlers bowled an accurate spell. Michael Hogan bowled five successive maidens in an impressive first spell of 7-5-7-0, and in one over beat Tavare five times outside the off stump.
However, it was Graham Wagg who made the initial breakthrough when he had Tavare caught at the wicket in his first over. Wagg bowled at a lively pace and had soon dismissed Gareth Roderick, who struck a lifting delivery low down to cover.
Andrew Salter’s off spin was introduced, but after being struck for six and another boundary by Dent he was taken off, having conceded 14 runs.
Dent played every ball on its merit to reach a chanceless half-century from 99 balls and would eventually finish with eight fours and two sixes.
Hogan continued to command respect and was rewarded for his accuracy when he had Benny Howell caught at slip from a rising delivery. But Gloucestershire eventually got home as Hamish Marshall struck back-to-back fours to clinch the points.
Gloucestershire thoroughly deserved their victory, and the 23 points they gained has lifted them to fourth in the table, but still level on points with fifth-placed Northamptonshire.
When they arrived in Swansea on the first day, Gloucestershire were without two of their leading batsmen, Michael Klinger and Ian Cockbain, and when Craig Miles pulled out through injury in pre-match practice, Hamish Marshall was summoned from Bristol.
However, nearly all their batsmen contributed in the first innings to gain a 117-run lead, while their bowlers bowled the perfect length required on the Swansea pitch.
In contrast, Glamorgan again failed to replicate the form they showed earlier in the season when they had won four consecutive championship games .
Tavare, in his first game as captain, praised his side for “their collective perfomance, especially as we had a weakened team”.
He added: “It was a good toss to lose, as we didn’t expect the ball to seam around as much as it did. The bowlers are young, but they are experienced and it showed in the win."
Will Tavare is sponsored by HighCroft Veterinary Group
