Miles Hammond Guides Gloucestershire to Hard-Fought Draw Against Glamorgan

Gloucestershire successfully batted out the final day at Sophia Gardens to secure a hard-earned draw against Glamorgan in a high-scoring County Championship clash. A resilient Miles Hammond led the charge with a composed 84, ensuring his side avoided defeat after following on, finishing on 255 for 7, 107 runs ahead.

Despite Ben Kellaway’s sensational all-round performance, Glamorgan were left to rue missed chances and the absence of injured legspinner Mason Crane, who was sidelined with a side strain. Kellaway, the 21-year-old allrounder, followed his first-innings century (139) with career-best bowling figures of 6 for 111, but could not quite engineer a final-day victory.

High-Scoring Stalemate Leaves Promotion Race Open

The draw came after just three innings in a match dominated by batters. Glamorgan had earlier piled on 528, led by Kellaway and Colin Ingram (117), in response to Gloucestershire’s 380—where James Bracey (133) and Ajeet Singh Dale Akhter (58) starred.

Despite following on, Gloucestershire held their nerve across the fourth day, denying Glamorgan the time and wickets needed to force a result. With Leicestershire and Derbyshire suffering defeats elsewhere, both teams edged closer to the promotion places as a result of the draw.

Final Day: Patience and Partnerships Key for Visitors

Resuming on 11 without loss, trailing by 137, Gloucestershire lost Cameron Bancroft early to James Harris. Kellaway then had Joe Phillips caught smartly by Asa Tribe at short leg, sparking hopes of a collapse.

However, Hammond found solid support throughout the day, first from Ollie Price, then a key 56-run stand with Graeme van Buuren, which blunted Glamorgan's momentum heading into lunch. By the afternoon, Gloucestershire were ahead, and although not entirely secure, had weathered the toughest part of the day.

James Bracey joined Hammond in a cautious partnership that added vital time and runs, stretching the lead and wearing down the bowlers. Though scoring wasn’t fluent, it didn’t need to be — batting out the overs was the clear objective.

Late Drama Fizzles Into Stalemate

The game sparked back to life briefly after tea when Hammond was dropped off his first ball, only to be dismissed moments later. Bracey soon followed, giving Kellaway his five-wicket haul and Colin Ingram a birthday gift with a sharp catch at slip.

But with time slipping away, and Gloucestershire showing little urgency, the match fizzled out. Kellaway struck once more for his sixth, but the result was a formality by then.

Stumps were drawn at 5:24pm, with 12 overs still left in the day, confirming the draw — a fair result after four days of fluctuating fortunes.

Match Summary:

Glamorgan 528 (Kellaway 139, Ingram 117)
Gloucestershire 380 (Bracey 133, Akhter 58, Bancroft 50) & 255/7 (Hammond 84, Kellaway 6-111)
Match drawn

Key Takeaways:

Ben Kellaway cemented his status as one of Glamorgan's brightest young talents with a century and a six-wicket haul.
Miles Hammond's 55-over vigil was instrumental in salvaging the draw for Gloucestershire.
Injured spinner Mason Crane’s absence may have denied Glamorgan a realistic chance at victory.
Both teams remain in contention for promotion as the Championship season progresses.