Thrilling derby draw at Cardiff

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO, Cardiff:
Glamorgan 410 & 171-8 dec drew with Gloucestershire 286 & 281-9 (Glamorgan 12pts, Glouces 9pts)

Match scorecard

Promotion rivals Gloucestershire and Glamorgan were both left frustrated at Sophia Gardens as their Severn derby ended in a tense final-ball draw.

Glamorgan were just one wicket short as Gloucestershire finished on 281-9, 16 runs shy of victory themselves.

Glamorgan declared on their overnight total of 171-8, setting a target of 294 in 100 overs for the visitors.

But, despite spinners Jamie Dalrymple and Robert Croft each taking three wickets, the visitors hung on.

Gloucestershire started the day well, with opener William Porterfield providing a firm base.

And they seemed to be heading for victory until an impressive spell of off-breaks from skipper Dalrymple swung the match back Glamorgan's way.

At tea, Gloucestershire were 186-5, still needing 108, with Porterfield unbeaten on 55, Alex Gidman having made 52, to pass his 1,000 runs for the season.

But the introduction of the second new ball proved a turning point.

And, once Porterfield holed out for 81 to James Allenby off Croft at 227-6, the prospects of a Gloucestershire win began to fade.

Richard Dawson struck some lusty blows for his 15 before Will Bragg's catch at cover gave Croft his third victim while Kruger delivered a brilliant yorker to dismiss Kadeer Ali.

Allenby dropped Steve Kirby with Gloucestershire 43 runs short of their target before Jon Lewis was caught behind in the penultimate over from Dalrymple for 28.

But Kirby survived the last over from Kruger to save the match.

Glamorgan's extra three bonus points from the game enable them to leapfrog above Gloucestershire to fourth heading into the final round of games.

And still any one of five counties can go up in the tightest promotion battle since the introduction of two-division Championship cricket nine years ago, only 11 points separating second-placed Essex from Gloucestershire in sixth.

Fourth-placed Derbyshire host second-placed Essex in the game that will probably provide the team that go up with champions Kent.

But Northants host bottom club Leicestershire, still playing for the pride of avoiding the wooden spoon.

Glamorgan go to The Oval to take on a Surrey side battling to avoid the same fate, while Gloucestershire host Division Two champions Kent at Bristol.