Date-stamped : 06 Jul97 - 10:18 Glamorgan frustration continues By Edward Bevan First day of four: Glamorgan (19-0) v Gloucs THIRD-placed Glamorgan may be challenging for the championship title, but they are also in contention to have lost the most play be- cause of rain this season. After only seven overs were bowled for 19 runs at St Helen`s yesterday the Welsh county have now lost the equiva- lent of 12 days this summer. Gloucestershire, who spent four and a half days in the dress- ing room at Luton last week, were also frustrated by the light rain which fell throughout the day. After winning the toss Gloucestershire, who included two spin- ners, opted to bowl on a slow seamer. But, apart from a couple of lbw appeals from Shaun Young, the Glamorgan openers dealt compe- tently. Former Warwickshire all-rounder Paul Smith has now been banned by his village side Berkswell in the wake of his ad- mission of drug taking. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Glamorgan v Gloucs Third day of four: Gloucs (214) and (54-1) trail Glamor-gan (400-5 dec) by 132 runs GLAMORGAN gained maximum bonus points at St Helen`s yesterday and unless Gloucestershire can redeem themselves today with a bet- ter batting performance, the Welsh county are well placed to gain their fifth championship win of the season, writes Edward Bevan. Apart from a sixth-wicket partnership of 60 from Shaun Young and Jack Russell, Gloucestershire`s batsmen struggled against the pace of Waqar Younis and Steve Watkin and the impressive left- arm spin of Dean Cosker. Gloucestershire followed on 186 runs behind and Cosker made the initial breakthrough when he dismissed Tony Wright, who edged Cosker`s fourth ball to slip. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Thomas helps give Glamorgan glint of title By Edward Bevan at Swansea Glamorgan (400 & 52-0) beat Gloucs (214 & 233) by 10 wickets THERE are many who placed money at favourable odds at the start of the season on Glamorgan winning the Britannic Assurance title and following their 10-wicket win at Swansea yesterday those pun- ters appear to have made sound investment. Glamorgan gained maximum points at St Helen`s and after win- ning their fifth championship game of the season - their third on succes- sive Saturdays - they now lead the championship table by 17 points, though Kent and Essex have a game in hand. Captain Matthew Maynard, though delighted with the win was philo- sophical regarding his team`s chances of winning the ti- tle for the first time since 1969. "We`ll take every game as it comes but there is such ability and a terrific spirit within the team that we have as good a chance as anybody. "What also pleased me was the performance of our young bowlers, Darren Thomas and Dean Cosker who shared seven wickets to set up the victory." With their frontline batsmen in good form - openers Steve James and Hugh Morris have both past 800 runs for the season - Glamorgan also have the advantage of a quality and varied attack with Thomas an admiral back-up seamer to Waqar and Steve Watkin. Thomas made the initial breakthrough yesterday after the Glouces- tershire second-wicket pair had denied Glamorgan for the first hour, taking three for seven from his opening 21 balls. Thomas has always been able to bowl a quick delivery, but un- til this season has lacked direction, bowling too many four balls. How- ever, since the arrival of coach Duncan Fletcher, from Western Province at the start of the season, Thomas has been a revelation. Fletcher has spent hours modifying Thomas` run up, keeping his head still at the point of delivery and concentrating his line on or around the off stump. "I was trying to get too side on, but thanks to Duncan I`ve got a more front on open chested action similar to Malcom Mar- shall," said Thomas, who has taken 33 wickets this season at 18.51 After Watkin had bowled a splendid opening spell Thomas re- placed him at the Sea End and with his third ball dismissed Nick Trainor, who nicked an outswinger to the wicketkeeper. Two overs later Thomas had nightwatchman Richard Davis, who had resisted stubbornly for 75 minutes, beautifully caught low down by Morris at slip, and when he bowled Tim Hancock, Gloucester- shire had lost three wickets for only 10 runs. At the other end Cosker, another of the younger brigade who have served Glamorgan well this season, took two wickets as Monte Lynch and Shaun Young departed in successive overs to the left-arm spin- ner. Cosker made an immediate impression after making his debut last season and following a successful tour of Pakistan with the England Under-19 team last winter is now an integral part of the Glamorgan team. Though he was born in Yeovil, his father and grandparents are Welsh and he was recommended to the county by Graham Reynolds, the club`s schools liaison officer who saw him bowl at Millfield School. Gloucestershire, whose main objective was to save the game, were not all out until the seventh over after tea when Waqar dis- missed the tailenders, including Martyn Ball, who struck a six and four other boundaries in a useful innings which lasted 74 balls. Earlier Jack Russell and Mark Alleyne had resisted for 19 overs adding 66 for the seventh wicket. Russell never one to surrender without a fight, once batted for almost a day at Cheltenham to deny Glamorgan victory, and they were relieved to see the wicketkeeper nudge a catch to Maynard at bat pad. James and Morris guided Glamorgan to their comprehensive vic- tory with 6.1 overs to spare. James struck the winning runs by hoisting a six into the members` enclosure which unfortunately hit a specta- tor a nasty blow on the head. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)