Bracey frustrates Glam with a century before Welsh county
JAMES Bracey’s second Specsavers County Championship century was not enough to save Gloucestershire from a six-wicket defeat by Glamorgan at Bristol.
The 20-year-old left-hander battled away for seven hours and 28 minutes to make an unbeaten 120, receiving excellent support from Ryan Higgins (61), Dan Worrall (50) and Matt Taylor (48), all three career-bests, as the hosts fought their way to 372 all out.
That set Glamorgan 83 to win in 21 overs. Nick Selman led the way with 36 as his side posted 85 for four, Aneurin Donald ending the game with a six in the 13th over, and took 22 points to Gloucestershire’s two.
The day began with Gloucestershire 133 for five, needing 157 to make the visitors bat again. Bracey, who was on 34, and Higgins comfortably negotiated the first 45 minutes.
Glamorgan skipper Michael Hogan made the breakthrough with the total on 184, trapping Higgins lbw playing half-forward.
Gloucestershire’s winter signing from Middlesex had faced 76 balls and hit 8 fours.
The stand with Bracey, whose half-century occupied 141 deliveries, was worth exactly 100.
Kieran Noema-Barnett contributed 12 before dragging a ball from Carey onto his stumps and departing with the total on 205.
Bracey remained unruffled, even when, with his score on 57, Shaun Marsh claimed a catch at square-leg off a pull-shot, but the umpires ruling that the ball had not quite carried.
Lunch was taken at 239 for seven. Early in the afternoon session Worrall, on 27, was dropped by Marsh, top-edging a sweep off Andrew Salter.
Worrall moved to his half-century off 71 balls. The Australian had gone into the game with a highest first class score of 26 and bettered it in both innings.
Glamorgan took the second new ball with their opponents on 253 for seven, needing a further 37 to avoid an innings defeat. Worrall was bowled off an inside edge by Carey to make it 285 for eight.
Taylor got off the mark with a legside boundary off Carey and when Bracey took a single off Hogan the