Glamorgan is batted into submission by James Bracey and Cameron Bancroft of Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire 179 and 610 for 5 dec (Bracey 204*, Bancroft 159*, Hammond 121) are to be defeated by Glamorgan 197 (Crane 44, Webster 7–17) and 222 for 3 (Labuschagne 67*, Northeast 47*) with 371 runs remaining.

On the third day of Gloucestershire’s Vitality County Championhip Second Division match against Glamorgan at Cheltenham, James Bracey made history by signing a record-breaking batting position.

With a career-best 204 not out, the former England left-hander joined an elite group that includes Gloucestershire greats WG Grace, Charlie Townsend, and Wally Hammond by becoming only the tenth player to reach a double century at the storied College Ground.

The home team amassed 610 for 5 before declaring their second innings shortly after lunch, led by overseas batsman Cameron Bancroft’s 184 and fellow Australian Beau Webster’s unbeaten 65. Of the bowlers for Glamorgan, only Timm van der Gugten got any recognition; the Dutch international seamer finished with 2 for 98 from 22 overs on a day that a few of his teammates would prefer to forget quickly.

Despite Marnus Labuschagne and Sam Northeast’s unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 66 in the last session, Gloucestershire managed to get some run-scoring action and reduced Glamorgan to 222 for 3 at the end, still 370 behind.

All three outcomes are still possible, but when Wales play again in the morning, their primary goal will be to try to salvage the match. The possibility of showers, according to the weather forecast, might yet work against Gloucestershire’s hopes of picking up only their second victory of the year.

Despite being fatigued from playing for so long and having to bat for over five sessions to win the match, Glamorgan managed to get off to a respectable start in their second innings, with Billy Root and Eddie Byrom putting on a stand of 67.

There was a sense of relief when Root, having scored 46, top-edged Marchant de Lange to deep fine leg, where Ajeet Singh Dale collected a very excellent catch on the run. It was quickly evident that Gloucestershire’s bowlers would need to work hard for a breakthrough.

The home team put on a strong effort, with Gloucestershire captain Graeme van Buuren using six bowlers to try and gain more ground. Labuschagne then weathered a tough scrutiny from De Lange. Byrom was ultimately undone by a misjudgment, shouldering arms to a delivery from Singh Dale that hit back off stump, after he had shown obdurate in chiselling 37 from 100 balls and playing second fiddle to Labuschagne in a stand of 68.

Next, Kiran Carlson arrived with lightning speed as the visitors fell to 156 for 3, pushing at a length ball from Matt Taylor that got caught in the pitch and edging a catch behind via a thin edge. But in the morning, Labuschagne and Northeast, who have struck 67 and 47 not out, respectively, will try to obstruct Gloucestershire’s path to win once more.

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Gloucestershire were facing a new ball shortly after they resumed their second innings at 388 for 3, and they were scoring quickly throughout the morning session. James Bracey, who braved a chilly north wind to score his third first-class century of the year and his twelfth career century from 131 balls, warmed the hearts of those Gloucestershire supporters.

The second innings for Gloucestershire was built on Cameron Bancroft’s foundation, much as it had been the day before. The seasoned opener put on massive partnerships of 201 and 253 with Miles Hammond and Bracey for the third and fourth wickets, respectively. He may not have drawn attention with his elegant stroke-play as Hammond did on the second day, but his unremorseful endurance and mental fortitude benefited Gloucestershire’s cause, and when his six and a half-hour marathon sojourn came to an end, he was greeted with a standing ovation from grateful Festival attendees.

The Australian’s greatest score of the summer took up 266 balls, including 20 fours and a six, and did much to break the spirits of Glamorgan, leaving the visitors looking dejected and slope-shouldered as their chances of success diminished. Which is why Andy Gorvin exuded uncontrollable relief when he found Bancroft’s outside edge and gave Cooke an easy chance behind the stumps.

Conversely, van Buuren scored two goals, tucking Dan Douthwaite behind the back without netting, causing Gloucestershire’s progress to briefly halt. As the score got closer to 500, Bracey, unfazed by what was happening on the other end, dragged Douthwaite over square leg for six to bring up his 150.

As they approached lunch, which was held with Gloucestershire on 534-5, he and Webster increased the tempo. It took them just 56 balls to score a stand of 50. A few people expressed disapproval when the much-anticipated announcement was still not forthcoming, but Bracey capitalised on the hold-up to surpass his previous best score of 177, achieved at Bristol in an away defeat to Yorkshire in April 2022. Reaching that milestone, he lofted Mason Crane’s leg spin over mid-wicket for a massive six.

When the declaration came in shortly after, James Bracey had faced 231 balls, scored 20 fours and 4 sixes, and reached his first double hundred with a sweep four behind square off Carlson. Webster made the most of some worn-out bowling, scoring 65 runs off of 68 balls as part of an uninterrupted partnership of 136 for the sixth wicket in 20.2 overs.