Cricket Dec 07, 2025

County Championship: Glamorgan miss out on record chase after epic catch in final-ball tie

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
County Championship: Glamorgan miss out on record chase after epic catch in final-ball tie

Glamorgan fell agonisingly short of the highest successful chase in first-class history after their Vitality County Championship Division Two match against Gloucestershire ended in a dramatic final-ball tie.

The visitors went into the final day at Cheltenham on 222-3, still needing another 370 runs for a famous victory, after James Bracey's unbeaten 204 and Cameron Bancroft's 184 saw Gloucestershire declare at 610-5 in their second innings.

Sam Northeast top-scored with 187 for Glamorgan and put on a 153-run fourth-wicket stand with Marnus Labuschagne (119), while contributions from Dan Douthwaite (39) and Timm van der Gugten (31) edged them closer to their unlikely target.

Andy Gorvin's dismissal left Glamorgan nine down and still needing 31 more for victory, only for Mason Crane (43 not out) to impress to leave them requiring two from the final over the match.

Ajeet Singh Dale's first four balls were dots and the fifth saw Crane scurry a single, levelling the scores, before a sensational one-handed catch from Bracey - without wearing his 'keeper glove - removed Jamie McIlroy (five) and dismissed Glamorgan for 592.

Only England's 654-5 against South Africa in Durban in 1939 and Maharashtra's 604 against Bombay in 1949 rank higher than Glamorgan's score. The first-class record winning score remains in the possession of Indian side West Zone, who chased down 536 to beat South Zone in 2010.

In Division One, Tom Lawes took 4-26 as Surrey dismissed Essex for 215 to complete a 145-run victory over their nearest rivals at the Kia Oval and increase their lead at the top of the Division One table.

Dean Elgar scored a typically defiant 60 but Surrey's quicker bowlers chipped away relentlessly once morning rain had cleared, with 21-year-old Lawes first taking two wickets in successive balls and then returning after tea to break further Essex resistance from Paul Walter and Michael Pepper.

Surrey's 20-point win, their sixth from nine Division One matches so far this season, was completed with 25.5 overs to spare and they remain on course for three Championship titles in a row.

Elsewhere, Tom Abell hit a perfectly-paced century as Somerset chased down 410 - the second-highest successful fourth-innings run chase in their history - to beat Warwickshire by five wickets on the final day at Taunton, lifting them up to second in the table.

The former club captain finished unbeaten on 152 as his side made light of their mammoth target, winning with 26 balls to spare. Tom Banton contributed 81, James Rew hit 57 not out and Tom Kohler-Cadmore scored 49 after Warwickshire had declared on their overnight second-innings total of 281-8.

Liam Dawson's stunning 56 from 28 deliveries gave Hampshire a sensational six-wicket win over Kent, having chased down their victory target of 179 with 47 balls to spare.

After Toby Albert, Fletcha Middleton and James Vince had got them off to a flyer, Dawson made it a cakewalk and saw them complete their third win in four matches to keep them in the title race. Kent remain winless in the County Championship since May 3.

Joe Clarke made his fourth century of the season and blunted the threat posed by Lancashire's James Anderson to ensure Nottinghamshire salvaged a draw in Southport.

Clarke passed fifty for the seventh time in 14 first-class innings this season and had put on an unbroken 136 for the fifth wicket with Lyndon James to steer the visitors to 270-4, while the players shook hands with James unbeaten on 43 and Clarke 115no.

Anderson, in contrast to his astonishing spell on Tuesday morning, had figures of 1-25 from 11 overs in two spells on the final day but the eight points the sides collect for the draw enables both of them to pull a little further away from Division One's relegation zone.

Watch the first Test between England and West Indies, at Lord's, live on SportNews Cricket from 10am on Wednesday July 10 (11am first ball). .

Tags:

cricket news id:13163050

Share this article

Related Posts

Storm Dave damages Durham's Riverside cricket ground during County Championship game with Kent

Storm Dave damages Durham's Riverside cricket ground during County Championship game with Kent

Durham's cricket stadium has been damaged by Storm Dave, with fans initially told to stay away for safety reasons on an ultimately abandoned day three...

Rob Key: Zak Crawley Test squad omission may define opener, world‑class Ollie Robinson can unlock England’s potential

Rob Key: Zak Crawley Test squad omission may define opener, world‑class Ollie Robinson can unlock England’s potential

Rob Key has left the door open for Zak Crawley to use his Test omission as a turning point after the opener became the highest‑profile casualty of Eng...

Davina Perrin left out as England name Women's T20 World Cup squad which is led by skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt

Davina Perrin left out as England name Women's T20 World Cup squad which is led by skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt

Davina Perrin has been left out of the England squad announced for the Women's T20 World Cup squad, but uncapped teenager Tilly Corteen-Coleman is inc...

Sarah Taylor named fielding coach for England’s men’s side in watershed moment

Sarah Taylor named fielding coach for England’s men’s side in watershed moment

Former England wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor will take on a ground-breaking role with the men's national side after being appointed as fielding coach for...

Jacob Bethell responds to IPL criticism as Sir Alastair Cook calls for England star to consider return to county cricket with Warwickshire

Jacob Bethell responds to IPL criticism as Sir Alastair Cook calls for England star to consider return to county cricket with Warwickshire

Jacob Bethell has responded to criticism about his lack of match time at the Indian Premier League as former England captain Sir Alastair Cook called...

County Championship: Essex use first injury substitute in tournament history as captain Tom Westley breaks finger

County Championship: Essex use first injury substitute in tournament history as captain Tom Westley breaks finger

The ECB's player replacement trial rule has been used for the first time in County Championship history, as Essex captain Tom Westley was replaced aft...