Cosgrove anchors Glamorgan

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Mark Cosgrove hit a boundary-laden 123 to help Glamorgan establish a lead of 256 by the close of the second day's play

Glamorgan opener Mark Cosgrove made his fourth century of the season to ensure the LV= County Championship match with promotion rivals Gloucestershire remains evenly balanced at Cheltenham.

Cosgrove’s entertaining 123 included 19 fours and helped Glamorgan end the second day on 283 for seven, a lead of 256.

In the morning, James Franklin and Chris Dent were chiefly responsible for taking Gloucestershire from an overnight 145 for five on to 243 all out and a first-innings lead of 27.

Jim Allenby took three of the final five Gloucestershire wickets to finish with a career-best 5-59.

Glamorgan had to wait 10 overs for their first wicket of the day, nightwatchman Steve Kirby lbw as he played forward defensively to left-arm spinner Dean Cosker.

Franklin progressed to a 108-ball half-century, with seven fours, and looked in no trouble until he holed out to Tom Maynard at long-on off Robert Croft for 59.

Allenby dismissed Jon Lewis and Vikram Banerjee, caught behind and lbw respectively, in quick succession, but Gemaal Hussain helped Dent add 24 for the last wicket before he too was lbw.

Dent’s unbeaten 45 spanned just 42 balls and contained three sixes, one hit straight down the ground off Croft and the other two picked up over square-leg and midwicket off Cosker.

Glamorgan made a poor start to their second innings as Franklin won an lbw verdict against Gareth Rees and bowled Tom Maynard to reduce them to 23 for two.

But Cosgrove looked in superb form as he took advantage of the short square boundaries and quick outfield to score a high percentage of his runs in boundaries.

Ben Wright helped the Australian left-hander put on 61 before he was trapped on his crease and fell lbw to Lewis.

Glamorgan's revival continued with a partnership of 99 for the fourth wicket between Cosgrove and skipper Jamie Dalrymple.

Cosgrove reached a 103-ball century just before tea when he cut Kirby to third man for three. Such was his dominance that he had scored 102 out of Glamorgan’s 150 for three at tea.

The total had moved on to 183 when Gloucestershire got the breakthrough they badly needed, Cosgrove chopping on to Hussain.

Hussain claimed his 48th wicket of the season in his next over when Dalrymple was bowled driving, and it became 219 for six when Kirby had Allenby taken at second slip by Dent.

Kirby struck again when he had James Harris leg before, the 12th lbw of the match, but Mark Wallace and Croft negotiated the remaining nine to set up an exciting finish.

Wallace reached a 63-ball half-century in the penultimate over when he struck Lewis for four behind square. He finished on 51 and has put on 42 for the eight wicket with Croft, who has 17.