Specsavers County Championship division two day two

Gloucestershire v Glamorgan

SHAUN Marsh led the way with an imperious century on day two of Glamorgan’s Specsavers’ County Championship game against Gloucestershire in Bristol.

Having seen his bowlers dismiss the host county for 236 on day one, the 34-year-old Australian made batting look easy on a wicket that still has a degree of life left in it.

It was a decent day all round for the visitors. Resuming on their overnight total of 26 for 0, they finished the day on 296 for 5, a lead of 60.

That said, it was not all plain sailing. The morning session, eventually cut short by light rain, had been something of a slog for opening batsmen Nick Selman and Jack Murphy. Although they were seldom in real trouble, they crept forward at a snail’s pace as Gloucestershire, aided by the overcast conditions, bowled a decent line and length.

The pair were prised apart with the score on 57 when Selman was bowled by Ryan Higgins for 28, off 66 balls.

Thereafter, the day belonged to Marsh. Gloucestershire toiled in the afternoon sunshine as Murphy and the seemingly indomitable Marsh set about their task. The pair were cautious but positive in their approach and added 67 for the second wicket before Murphy was adjudged lbw to Graeme van Buuren at 124 for 2.

The elegant left hander, Murphy, struck five fours and faced 157 balls in finishing three short of what would have been a deserved half century.

If Gloucestershire thought the dismissal of Murphy would give them a chance of making inroads, they were wrong. The diminutive Karin Carlson joined forces with Marsh and Glamorgan pushed on, either side of tea.

Marsh reached his 50 off 98 balls and continued to dominate whilst Carlson went about his work with equal competence.

Unfortunately, for Carlson, he played one shot too many and was duly dismissed, caught behind by Gareth Roderick off the bowling of Benny Howell, for 45.

Marsh continued to prosper and brought up his 25th first class century off 171 balls with 16 fours. There was precious little Gloucestershire could do to stem the tide as Glamorgan passed their hosts’ first innings total with 23 overs in the day remaining.

However, to their credit, Gloucestershire battled well in the final session and having seen Marsh (111) hole out to Higgins off the bowling of Daniel Worrall, at 263 for 4, they picked up the wicket of Aneurin Donald when he edged Higgins to Roderick at 287 for 5.