Cricket: Wharf double strike boosts Glamorgan

May 1 2008 By Gareth Griffiths

GLOUCESTERSHIRE were 113 for four at tea on the third day of the LV county championship game at Bristol, 164 runs adrift of Glamorgan's first innings total.

Alex Wharf struck twice as he removed opener Craig Spearman and Grant Hodnett.

Hodnett had originally been dropped on five at deep backward square-leg by Jason Gillespie, before two balls later Spearman struck the ball straight to captain David Hemp at mid-off for 20.

Hodnett than ran out of luck on 13 as he guided the ball straight to Matthew Wood at gully.

David Harrison claimed the third wicket with the Gloucestershire score on 55, when he caught the edge of Hamish Marshall's bat for a catch for Mark Wallace.

The New Zealander had been lucky to survive the previous Harrison over when Mike Powell spilled a regulation catch at second slip.

Australian left-hander Marcus North (37) and Alex Gidman (23 not out) put on 49 for the fourth wicket before Gillespie returned to the attack and dismissed his fellow countryman with wicket-keeper Wallace producing a superb catch low to his left.

Earlier in the day it had been third time lucky as play started on time for the first occasion with the Welsh county bowled out for 277 by the end of the morning session.

After losing 132 overs on the opening two days to the rain, the Welsh county resumed on 208 for six off 60 overs with Alex Wharf and Robert Croft at the crease.

Wharf was dismissed by Anthony Ireland when he played onto his stumps for 15, while Croft was denied a half-century when he was trapped lbw for 45 by Mark Hardinges.

Ryan Watkins was caught sweeping North at slip by Craig Spearman for three. Hardinges then brought the Glamorgan innings to an end just before lunch when he bowled David Harrison for six, with Gillespie unbeaten on 16.