Glamorgan come out on top

Hamish Marshall was dropped five times on his way to 105

Glamorgan clinched a 114-run victory over Gloucestershire at Bristol, despite dropping Hamish Marshall five times on his way to a last-day century in Division Two.

The New Zealander hit 105 as the home side were bowled out for 200 after they had been set 315 to win off a minimum of 80 overs.

Wicketkeeper Steve Snell helped add 114 for the sixth wicket, scoring his maiden LV County Championship half-century, and the pair looked to be saving the game.

But Robert Croft (3-39) and Jason Gillespie (3-39) had other ideas, forcing a collapse from 190 for five and ensuring 17 points for the Welsh county, who won only one championship fixture all last season.

Matthew Wood (83 not out) and David Hemp (72no) began the day by extending Glamorgan's second innings total to 178 for one against occasional bowlers before the declaration.

The game then resumed in earnest and Gloucestershire soon plunged into trouble. By lunch the home side had struggled to 41 for three, with Craig Spearman, Grant Hodnett and Marcus North back in the pavilion.

It could have been worse as Marshall was dropped three times in moving to 27 not out, Ryan Watkins (third slip), Gareth Rees (short-leg), and Mike Powell (second slip) being the culprits.

Matthew Wood started well for Glamorgan © Getty Images

Spearman had made only four when shouldering arms to Gillespie and falling lbw with the total on seven.

It was 23 for two when Hodnett edged Alex Wharf to Powell at second slip and departed for three. North soon followed to a spectacular diving gully catch by Wood off Wharf, having failed to score.

Alex Gidman (15) and Chris Taylor (six) fell early in the afternoon session, both to David Harrison, and only one result looked possible.

But Glamorgan continued to aid Marshall with sloppy fielding that saw him dropped on 72, again by Powell and for the third time off Gillespie. Unbelievably the batsman then had a fifth escape on 81 when spilled by Jamie Dalrymple at mid-wicket off Croft.

Marshall went on to his ninth century for Gloucestershire, off 157 balls, with 10 fours.

But then Croft made the key breakthrough, having him caught at short-leg and the rest of the batting folded tamely in the space of 44 balls.

Snell fell to a leg-side catch by wicketkeeper Mark Wallace off Croft for a well-made 52 and Gillespie quickly cleaned up Mark Hardinges and Steve Kirby.

When Croft had last man Anthony Ireland caught close in it sparked scenes of jubilation among the Glamorgan players, while Gloucestershire skipper Jon Lewis was left to reflect on a generous third-day declaration when a draw seemed the only outcome.

It was Glamorgan's first away victory in the championship since July 2006 when they beat the same opponents at Cheltenham. Gloucestershire had to settle for three points.