PUT in the familiar position of having to save a game at Bristol, Gloucestershire once again successfully salvaged a draw from their County Championship game against Glamorgan this week.

Trailing by 224 runs after the first innings, Gloucestershire were reduced to 49-3 by lunch on the final day but had recovered to 165-5 on a placid pitch when the teams shook hands on the draw, taking nine points to Glamorgan’s 12.

Will Tavare (41 off 167 balls) and Ian Cockbain (25 off 97 balls) frustrated Glamorgan’s bowlers in a 44-run fourth wicket partnership that lasted 32.1 overs before Will Gidman’s unbeaten 47, aided by Benny Howell (13*) in an unbroken stand of 60, led Gloucestershire to safety.

Hamish Marshall scored 109 in Gloucestershire’s first innings total of 391, Michael Hogan taking 4-57.

Jacques Rudolph (139) and Ben Wright (123) both hit centuries to put Glamorgan in charge and they surprisingly batted on at the start of the final day before declaring on 615-7.

Gloucestershire face Essex at Chelmsford in their next Division Two clash, starting on Sunday