HAMISH Marshall’s fourth championship century of the season- his 22nd for his county- and an unbeaten 58 from David Payne has enabled Gloucestershire to gain a lead of 127, with their score on 347 for 8 .

With the ninth wicket pair of Payne and Josh Shaw having already shared an unbroken partnership of 56 for the ninth wicket, Glamorgan have much to do if they are to avoid losing their seventh championship game of a disappointing season.

Marshall returns to New Zealand at the end of the season after spending eleven years in the West Country, and his innings from 189 balls- although he did give a difficult chance to wicketkeeper Mark Wallace on 40- rescued Gloucestershire after they had earlier slumped to 38 for 3.

He also found a staunch ally in George Hankins, the 19-year-old England Under19 batsman who stayed with Marshall for 47 overs to share a partnership of 120 for the fourth wicket.

Resuming at their overnight score of 62 for 3, Marshall and Hankins batted throughout the morning session, and were not separated until 20 minutes after lunch when Hankins feathered a catch to the wicketkeeper off Graham Wagg.

Hankins was at the crease for three and a quarter hours for 43, and struck only five boundaries, but he was the perfect foil for Marshall, and with more experience at county level he will only prosper.

Despite adding 56 with Marshall for the fifth wicket, Phil Mustard was never at ease, and when Michael Hogan took the new ball, Mustard soon edged to slip.

Marshall’s innings ended in Hogan’s next over, when he was adjudged lbw, and was either unhappy with the decision or disappointed with himself as he took some time to drag himself away from the crease.

Craig Miles and David Payne then strengthened their team’s position with a stand of 60 for the eighth wicket, although Wallace missed a stumping off Kieran Carlson with Payne on 20. Shortly afterwards Carlson was rewarded when Miles, who made 34, chipped a low catch to Wagg at short mid -wicket, but Payne further frustrated Glamorgan by reaching fifty shortly before the close. Although Payne and Josh Shaw scored at a slow rate- at one stage only six runs were scored in eight overs- their approach were certainly justified with the game only at the half way stage.

Marshall, who scored his second century in three games, said “it’s always nice to get into a run of form, especially on a good pitch, but the game has a long way to go and we would ideally like to get a big lead and put Glamorgan under some scoreboard pressure”. He also praised George Hankins, saying he “has a big future, is never overawed and just gets on with it”