Glamorgan 342 for 7 ( Carlson 137*, Salter 84, Cooke 51, Payne 3-57) v Gloucestershire
Kiran Carlson, at 19 one of the leading lights in Glamorgan’s fresh crop of Welsh-born players, struck a career best 137 not out, the second first-class century of his career on a memorable day for Glamorgan.
His innings – to follow his maiden first-class century against Essex last season when he became the youngest Glamorgan player to reach that landmark – followed a partnership of 182 with Andrew Salter, who struck a career-best 84.
Carlson and Chris Cooke (51) guided Glamorgan to 127 for 4 at lunch, Gloucestershire deciding to bowl first after an uncontested toss. 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 dropped catch from the first.
Colin Ingram got off to a great start in his last home Championship match before he takes up a one-day contract next year. He 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 Kiran Carlson. It was shortlived, however, when he was dismissed lbw by Kieran Noema-Barnett for 35, having struck eight fours, and Glamorgan looked to be in a spot of bother at 62 for 3.
Aneurin Donald, back in the side after being dropped last week for the Northamptonshire match, played a poor shot outside off-stump on one, offering an easy chance to George Hankins at third slip off David Payne.
Carlson and Chris Cooke looked to get Glamorgan back on track in the middle-order against Noema-Barnett and Matt Taylor. The rate continued at around four an over and Glamorgan finally reached the hundred mark in the 26th over, and the batsmen went past the fifty partnership when Carlson drove Josh Shaw for four through cover.
They had added 65 by tea, as the home side reached 216 for 5. Chris Cooke had reached his half-century from 67 balls. However, after a lengthy delay to repair a hole in the pitch at square-leg, he was bowled by David Payne for 51, ending an 88 partnership with Carlson for the fifth wicket.
Carlson kicked on, however, and reached his half-century from 131 balls with a crashing blow through the covers off Payne, his seventh four of the innings. The wicket slowed Glamorgan’s scoring rate, but Andrew Salter looked to up the tempo with back-to-back fours, pulling through mid-wicket before cutting down to third man off Kieran Noema-Barnett as he moved into double figures.
Carlson continued to bat sensibly, allowing Salter to play the shots. 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 Taff after Glamorgan had gained their first batting point, bringing up the fifty stand for the sixth wicket. Another, slightly wider six soon followed off the same bowler before tea.
Carlson showed great maturity in waiting more than four-and-a-half hours to get his hundred, and great composure throughout the nineties as the field closed in around him. Salter reached his half-century from 127 balls, having hit five fours.
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