Glos slump to another Festival defeat

LVCC: Glamorgan 216 & 371 beat Gloucestershire 243 & 168 by 176 runs (PTS: Glam 20, Glos 4)

Gloucestershire's wait for a victory at Cheltenham continues as Glamorgan dealt a serious blow to their promotion hopes with a 176-run victory.

Another batting collapse saw a game which the home side were in control of on the first morning slide away to a crushing defeat. Gloucestershire conceded 16-points to their promotion rivals.

Their batting again crumbled around a dramatic sense of panic, with five wickets going down for the addition of just nine runs in 57 balls. All after another solid start. The second half-century opening stand of the match was thanks to Will Porterfield's positive play.

The Ireland captain played aggressively and although he didn't make the most of his opportunities - admittedly receiving an excellent delivery from Huw Waters in the first innings - he did provide impetus that has been lacking from the Gloucestershire top order all season.

Jon Batty played two identical innings - both abject failures. Beginning solidly, hitting a boundary or two, before becoming tied down and relying on back-foot play. Both his dismissals came as a result of not getting onto the front-foot.

Consecutive collapses is extremely worrying for Gloucestershire, who now must beat Worcestershire to realistically stay in the promotion race.

Their other worry is against lower-order batting. Regularly teams rally after losing cheap wickets in the middle order and Gloucestershire allow teams off the hook. This occurred twice at Cheltenham, as Glamorgan added 242 runs for the last three wickets over both innings - take those runs out of the game and this match could have been very different.

As it transpired, Glamorgan showed more fight when it was required and their match got better and better. Mark Cosgrove's wonderful knock on day two was complimented by Mark Wallace helping himself to a hundred on the third morning, for a match haul of 185 runs.

Those who dared to dream the second-highest chase at Cheltenham could be achieved were woken up abruptly by James Harris' and Waters' devastating burst. The match finished in triumphant fashion for the Welsh County with Robert Croft's first career hat-trick.

Official report: www.gloscricket.co.uk