DAY 2 Close: Glamorgan 257-3 trail Gloucestershire 417 by 160 runs (PTS: Glam 4, Glos 5)
LIVE ball-by-ball commentary on www.gloscricketradio.co.uk
Gloucestershire face an uphill battle to stay in the match at Cardiff as Glamorgan's batsman contributed at the top of the order and are well placed to claim a first innings lead.
The way the home side raced along - above four-an-over - suggested that Gloucestershire's 417 was only a par score for this very docile surface. Batting was fairly straightforward, although both Jon Lewis and Gemaal Hussain enjoyed movement through the air after tea, forcing the batsmen to play and miss with regularity.
The bowlers didn't enjoy a great deal of luck and on a different afternoon more wickets may have fallen. But two catches were dropped and a run-out chance missed by Vikram Banerjee. There was certainly enough poor cricket by the visitors to counteract their misfortune at times.
Banerjee enjoyed a pretty average afternoon; luring Jamie Dalrymple out of his ground to be smartly stumped by Jon Batty but aside that moment he caused few problems - admittedly on a very unresponsive surface - but he failed to generate any pressure.
It was no surprise to learn that Jack Russel had made an approach for Robert Croft - Glamorgan rejecting Gloucestershire's offer of a loan signing.
The opportunities that Gloucestershire gave away with the bat - four players passing 50 but falling to convert - resulted in a lower score than was required here and Gloucestershire chances of winning in Cardiff for the first time since 1999 are now fairly slim.
The highlight of the day for the visitors was the form of Anthony Ireland. He regularly achieved extra bounce off a length. One such delivery to Gareth Rees deflected into the stumps off Rees's gloves. A hint of seam movement accounted for Mark Cosgrove, also bowled after a confident start.
LIVE coverage continues tomorrow on www.gloscricketradio.co.uk
Official report: www.gloscricket.co.uk
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