Rain is scheduled for Sophia Gardens leading to Glamorgan and Gloucestershire to forfeit innings in search of result

Gloucestershire and Glamorgan both forfeited innings at Sophia Gardens today (September 28), in a bid for the match to end in a result with rain forecast for the final day.

The final round of the County Championship between the two Division Two sides in Cardiff turned into a one innings per side contest, when Gloucestershire forfeited their first innings before Glamorgan forfeited their second. Rain completely washed out play on Day One, and only 65 overs were possible on day two of the contest, with Glamorgan having managed to surpass 350 by the morning session of day three. 

With rain also scheduled to heavily interrupt the final day tomorrow, meaning the match would likely finish as a draw, the two sides agreed upon to construct a scenario to give the best chance possible of a result. With Glamorgan four wickets down before Lunch, Chris Cooke was nearing a century. He accelerated as he neared three figures, reaching 89 off 119 balls. Despite the new ball having been taken only five overs prior, Gloucestershire decided to bring on a spinner in Ollie Price, seemingly to encourage Cooke to score quicker. Cooke duly struck two consecutive sixes off Price, and reached his century in doing so.

As soon as Cooke reached three figures, Glamorgan declared on 381-4. Immediately, news came through that Gloucestershire had forfeited their first innings, and that Glamorgan had forfeited their second, meaning that Gloucestershire would commence their second innings, despite having not previously batted in the match. It also meant that Gloucestershire needed 382 runs to win.

The chase didn't start very well, however, with Chris Dent dismissed for a 12-ball duck in the fourth over of the innings. Gloucestershire went into Lunch on 22-1. Gloucestershire and Glamorgan currently sit sixth and seventh in the Division Two table respectively, and neither side are fighting for promotion.

When England and South Africa forfeited an innings each

Although unusual, forfeiting innings to try and generate a result has been a tactic used by teams before. The only instance that has occurred of the tactic in Test cricket, however, was in 2000, when England were touring South Africa.

Following the first day of the fifth Test in which South Africa scored 155-6, the following three days were washed-out by rain. With only one day left, South Africa captain Hansie Cronje struck a deal with England captain Nasser Hussain, whereby South Africa would continue to bat until they reached around 250, and then declare. England and South Africa would both then forfeit an innings to leave England chasing a win on the final day.

England went on to win, scoring 251-8. It later emerged Cronje had been approached by a bookmaker to ensure the game would end in a result, but the England team were not aware of this at the time of their forfeiture.

What do the laws say on forfeiture?

Forfeiting innings is also allowed under the MCC Laws of the game. Under Law 15.2 and 15.3: "A captain may forfeit either of his/her side's innings at any time before the commencement of that innings. A forfeited innings shall be considered a completed innings... A captain shall notify the opposing captain and the umpires of any decision to declare or to forfeit an innings. Once notified, the decision cannot be changed."

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