Glamorgan 296 for 5 (Marsh 111) lead Gloucestershire 236 by 60 runs
Scorecard
Shaun Marsh displayed his class with an imperious century to put Glamorgan on top at the halfway point of their Specsavers County Championship Division Two clash with Gloucestershire.
Marsh registered 18 fours in a classy innings of 111 at Bristol on a wicket that still has a degree of life left in it as Glamorgan reached 296 for 5 in response to their opponents’ 236 all out.
In reaching three figures midway through the final session, Marsh joined compatriots Matthew Elliott and Mark Cosgrove in having scored a first-class century on debut for Glamorgan. He is the 10th Glamorgan player to achieve the feat.
It was not all plain sailing for the visitors as, resuming on 26 without loss, opening batsmen Nick Selman and Jack Murphy struggled for rhythm in a morning session eventually cut short by light rain.
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 for 47.
If Gloucestershire thought the dismissal of Murphy would give them a chance of making inroads, they were wrong. The diminutive Kiran Carlson joined forces with Marsh and Glamorgan pushed on either side of tea.
Marsh reached his 50 off 98 balls and continued to dominate while 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, they picked up the wicket of Aneurin Donald when he edged Higgins to Roderick.
Source: ESPN Crickinfo