High Fives For Marchant De Lange After His Best Glamorgan Figures

Gloucestershire recovered from 86-5 to 236 all out against Glamorgan on Day 1 of the Second Division County Championship match at Bristol, as the Welsh side ended the first day of their campaign on 26-0.

But the star of the show from Glamorgan’s point of view was fast bowler Marchant de Lange, who took five for 62, his second five-wicket haul and best figures for the Welsh county.

Glamorgan had made a promising start to their campaign on the first morning against Gloucestershire as the English county were restricted to 86-4 before lunch.

Young Pontarddulais fast bowler Lukas Carey took two early wickets, the second of which brought him to 50 career first-class wickets, and reduced the home side to 30-2 within seven overs.

Captain Chris Dent was the first man to fall, losing his off-stump for six, before Benny Howells was trapped leg before wicket for 11, Carey reaching the half-century wicket milestone one game earlier in his career than Glamorgan stalwart Steve Watkin.

Gloucestershire’s misery was further compounded when Gareth Roderick was caught at slip by Nick Selman off captain Michael Hogan for 17, his team 53-3 as Glamorgan claimed a first bonus point.

On 81-3 before lunch, de Lange had a chance to remove Jack Taylor, only for Aneurin Donald to drop him at slip. But he took the second opportunity to remove the batsman, uprooting his off-stump to leave the English county 86-4 at lunch.

The South African paceman struck again immediately after the interval, as James Bracey was caught at slip by Nick Selman off the first ball of the session for 34, his side struggling at 86-5.

If the morning session had belonged to Glamorgan, then the early part of the afternoon session was Gloucestershire’s. However, it wasn’t long before the home side lost their sixth wicket on 124, when Michael Hogan trapped Grame van Buuren lbw for 10.

Kieran Noema-Barnett and Ryan Higgins frustrated the bowling attack throughout the session, adding 44, before the latter pulled to Shaun Marsh off de Lange for 43 in the closing overs to leave Gloucestershire 172-7 at tea.

As Kieran Noema-Barnett and Dan Worrall looked to recover the innings, they got the final session off to a steady start, adding 39 to the total before Noema-Barnett was trapped lbw by new ball bowler Carey for 46 to leave the home side on 211-8.

The final two wickets came in quick succession, Matt Taylor caught by David Lloyd at slip off de Lange, before the same bowler dismissed Benny Howell, caught behind by Chris Cooke for 2, the bowler claiming five for 62, his best figures for Glamorgan. Gloucestershire finished on 236 all out.

Selman and Jack Murphy came out to face the final eight overs of the day, and saw Glamorgan through to the close, ending on 26-0.