Carlson’s career-best puts Glam in command
KIRAN Carlson was the star of the show as Glamorgan recovered from a stuttering start to dominate day one of their Specsavers County Championship Division Two clash against Gloucestershire atb the SSE SWALEC.
The 19-year-old Cardiff batsman struck a career-best 137 not out, the second first-class century of his career, following a partnership of 182 with Andrew Salter, who struck a career-best 84.
It took Glamorgan to 342-7 in their final home match of the season.
The Welsh county got off to a poor start, Nick Selman removed lbw by David Payne from the second ball of the match after he survived a chance for a catch from the very first ball.
Colin Ingram, in his last home Championship match before he takes up a one-day contract next year, struck three fours in the first four overs. It wasn’t long, however, before he was bowled by Liam Norwell for 18.
Championship debutant Connor Brown, meanwhile, showed early promise as he dealt blow after blow to the boundary after being joined by fellow Cardiffian Carlson at 33-2.
It was short-lived, however, when he was dismissed lbw by Kieran Noema-Barnett for 35, having struck eight fours.
Then Aneurin Donald, back in the side after being dropped last week for the Northamptonshire match, played a poor shot outside off-stump on one, being caught at third slip to reduce the Welsh side to 63-4.
Carlson and Chris Cooke looked to get Glamorgan back on track in the middle-order and they had added 65 by tea, as the home side reached 216-5.
Cooke reached his half-century from 67 balls, but, after a lengthy delay to repair a hole in the pitch at square-leg, he was bowled by David Payne for 51.
Carlson kicked on and Andrew Salter looked to up the tempo with back-to-back fours. However, it was Carlson who hit the first six of the match, and the first of his Championship career, over spinner Jack Taylor’s head towards the River Taf after Glamorgan had gained their first batting point, bringing up the 50 stand for the sixth wicket.
Another, slightly-wider six soon followed off the same bowler before tea.
Resuming the final session on 2165, Carlson and Salter were soon into their stride once more. Neither Benny Howell, in his first Championship match for over a year, nor Josh Shaw had any answers early on as the boundaries kept coming. The flurry of runs continued as the pair brought up their century stand for the sixth wicket as Carlson moved into the nervous 90s.
Salter, for his part, was approaching his half-century and it was a race to see who would get there first.
Both batsmen looked edgy, though, as they approached their respective milestones. However, it was Carlson who got there first, from 216 balls, having struck 12 fours and two sixes. He showed great maturity in waiting more than four-and-a-half hours to get there. Salter reached his half-century from 127 balls, having hit five fours.
Once the pressure of the milestones was behind the batsmen, Salter opened up and struck boundaries on both sides of the ground. As Glamorgan gained a third batting point, he and Carlson brought up their 150 partnership with 10 overs remaining in the first day.
Their partnership ended on 182 when Salter was caught behind by James Bracey off Josh Shaw for 84, and Craig Meschede was soon caught by Chris Dent at second slip off Noema-Barnett without scoring.