Hurricane Hammond hits Glamorgan – BBC Sport

Vitality County Championship Division Two, Cheltenham (day two)

Gloucestershire: 179 & 388-3: Bancroft 159*, Hammond 121, Bracey 90*

Glamorgan: 197 (61.1 overs) Crane 43; Webster 5-17, De Lange 3-44

A hurricane hundred from Miles Hammond put Gloucestershire firmly in the driving seat as they reached 388-3, a massive lead of 370 runs over Glamorgan.

He hit 121 in a stand of 201 with Australian opener Cameron Bancroft, who finished with a composed unbeaten 159.

Bancroft and James Bracey (90 not out) added a further 170 to strengthen home dominance.

It was a remarkable turnaround after a low-scoring first innings saw Glamorgan lead by 18.

Earlier Glamorgan added 64 for their final three wickets to reach 197 as Mason Crane (44) looked comfortable and was well supported in a rapid 50 stand by Andy Gorvin.

Australia Beau Webster returned to remove both and finish with figures of 5-17.

Timm van der Gugten induced edges from both Ben Charlesworth and Ollie Price with Gloucestershire still behind, but Hammond led the counter-attack either side of lunch as he and Bancroft took the initiative.

The afternoon session saw Gloucestershire galloping along at more than five an over with Hammond keen to go for the big shots as all Glamorgan’s bowlers struggled.

Kiran Carlson then induced Hammond to sky one to mid-on, but he had already struck 17 fours and four sixes.

The fourth-wicket stand between Bancroft and Bracey may have looked less of a battering, but both men struck a range of stylish shots.

Bancroft reached three figures off 143 balls and pushed on past 150 while Bracey moved into the nineties, as Glamorgan looked forlorn in the field and Gloucestershire look likely to have the luxury of a declaration decision on day three.

Gloucestershire batter Miles Hammond told BBC Bristol Sport:

“We’re in a very strong position, things always happen quickly at Cheltenham and we batted really well today, it all went to plan.

“I knew Timm van der Gugten was their main threat so I tried to put him under pressure and make that partnership with Bangers (Bancroft), he played beautifully as did Jim (Bracey) at the end.

“All in all a pretty special day, and we’re in a pretty cool position.”

Glamorgan assistant coach David Harrison told BBC Sport Wales:

“It’s been a strange couple of days, we started the day well with the bat and Timm was fantastic with the new ball.

“But fair play to Bancroft and Hammond, they got themselves in and the pitch quietened down, Hammond took some risks which came off and put us on the back foot.

“We’ve got two days to go, we’ve shown great character and resilience in the last couple of seasons and we’ll need that.”