Gloucestershire 141 (de Lange 3-54, van der Gugten 3-39, Hogan 3-25) and 137 for 0 (Bancroft 62*, Dent 68* ) beat Glamorgan 117 (Donald 39, Payne 3-37) and 158 ( Norwell 6-38) by 10 wickets
Scorecard
Liam Norwell ensured Gloucestershire stayed on top © Getty Images
Gloucestershire eased to a 10-wicket victory over Glamorgan inside two days at Cheltenham College.
Having been set 135 to win, shortly after lunch on the second day of the county’s annual Cricket Festival, captain Phil Mustard’s side took just 31.3 overs to secure their second Specsavers’ County Championship victory of the season.
It was certainly a welcome win for Gloucestershire coach Richard Dawson, whose side, for the time being at least, leapfrog seventh placed Derbyshire, in the Division Two table.
To their credit, Glamorgan made a pretty decent first of things during the opening session at the picturesque college ground.
Having been reduced to 59 for 5 in their second innings on a remarkable first day when 25 wickets fell, the visitors progressed nicely thanks to Timm van der Gugten and Andrew Salter.
On a wicket that had its moments, the pair put on 46 for the sixth wicket before the former was trapped lbw for 17 by Kieran Noema-Barnett. Unfortunately, for Glamorgan, Salter fell in the following over, caught behind for 31, off the bowling of Craig Miles and suddenly, the Welsh county were once again staring down the barrel at 104 for 7.
Captain Chris Cooke and Graham Wagg batted well, thereafter, with Wagg leading the way as Glamorgan reached lunch on 140 for 7.
However, that was the end of the good news as far as the visitors were concerned. With Norwell weaving his magic from the College Lawn End, Glamorgan lost their last three wickets for just eight runs.
Wagg was trapped lbw by Norwell for 30 at 150 before Marchant De Lange drove the same bowler to Jack Taylor at extra cover. Two overs later, Norwell and Taylor combined once again to send back Michael Hogan, for 0.
It was the fourth time this season that Norwell had helped himself to five wickets in an innings. His final figures of 6 for 38 off 18 overs were fully justified on a day when Gloucestershire certainly coped better with a pitch that has certainly dominated the idle chat around this picturesque ground in the heart of Cheltenham.
In contrast to what had gone before, Gloucestershire’s opening pair looked in precious little trouble as they moved easily towards victory.
Although Chris Dent was dropped on 35, by bowler Salter, he and Cameron Bancroft guided Gloucestershire to victory with more than half of the game still remaining. Dent passed 50 off 80 balls, with six fours, and finished, unbeaten on 68, whilst Bancroft (62 not out) posted his half century off 87 balls, with eight fours.
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Source: ESPN Crickinfo