Dalrymple and Wright fight back for Glamorgan

Gloucestershire 417 v Glamorgan 257 for 3
Scorecard

Ben Wright and captain Jamie Dalrymple cracked half-centuries as Glamorgan made inroads into Gloucestershire's competitive first-innings total on the second day of their County Championship clash at Cardiff.

Gloucestershire were bowled out for 417 in their first innings with five players passing 50, before Glamorgan reached 257 for 3 by the close - 160 behind - with Wright 77 not out.

At the start of the day Chris Taylor and Stephen Snell made serene progress after Gloucestershire resumed their first innings on 303 for 5. Taylor reached his half century from 118 balls and Snell went to the landmark rather quicker from 89 deliveries.

And it took a change of bowling to break up the partnership which was worth 120 in 35 overs. Jim Allenby struck with his second ball to have Taylor trapped in front and three overs later, after Gloucestershire had registered a fourth batting point, he dismissed Snell, who was caught behind attempting to cut.

Jon Lewis increased Gloucestershire's modest scoring rate with a 51-ball half-century helped with a top-edged six off Huw Waters to get off the mark. He went soon after reaching his 50, going back fatally to Dean Cosker and being adjudged leg before.

Gloucestershire's first innings extended 4.1 overs into the afternoon session. And it was Croft who wrapped up the innings by taking the last two wickets in the space of eight balls - claiming the seventh and eighth lbw decisions of the innings to remove Vikram Banerjee and Stephen Ireland respectively.

The former England offspinner has now taken 991 first-class victims for Glamorgan. The irony was that Gloucestershire had put in a request to Glamorgan two weeks ago to take Croft on loan. But that was turned down by Glamorgan's director of cricket Matthew Maynard, despite Croft only figuring in one of Glamorgan's first five championship matches.

Glamorgan did not hang about in their reply with Mark Cosgrove clubbing seven fours in a brutal cameo which saw the county reach 50 for 0 inside 10 overs before the South Australian was bowled by Ireland. Cosgrove departed having made 34 from only 33 balls.

Gareth Rees, who was dropped on 27 by Snell at second slip off Ireland, and Dalrymple guided Glamorgan to tea at 111 for 1. But shortly after the interval Glamorgan lost Rees, who was bowled by Ireland via a glove as Glamorgan reached 125 for 2.

When Wright came to the wicket Dalrymple was on 41, but the 22-year-old proceeded to outscore his captain contributing 50, from 68 balls, to a third-wicket partnership of 78. That partnership was broken when Dalrymple was neatly stumped by Jon Batty after the batsman had charged down the track to a Banerjee delivery.