Watch: One of the most thrilling matches ever played ended in a tie in remarkable fashion, as Gloucestershire wicketkeeper James Bracey took a diving catch to his right without wearing a glove to end Glamorgan's pursuit of what would have been the highest chase in first-class history on the last ball of the Division Two clash.
Bracey had taken off his right glove in anticipation of a potential bye attempt, but dived to his right to grab a screamer of a catch, bowling Glamorgan out in the process and ending the match with the scores level.
Bowlers dominate in the first innings
Gloucerstershire were bowled out for 179 in the first innings after being put into bat. This was after they were 104-9 at one stage. Timm van der Gugten took 5-59 from his 15 overs.
In response, Glamorgan could only manage an 18-run lead, getting bowled out for 197. Beau Webster took 5-17 in 10.1 overs for Gloucestershire.
Batters turn things around in the second
In the third innings, Gloucestershire put up a mammoth 610-5 declared on the board with as many as three individual hundreds, one of which was a double. Cameron Bancroft made 184 after a duck in the first innings, Miles Hammond made 121 off just 110 balls, while Bracey was unbeaten on 204 off only 231 deliveries.
Glamorgan were given a target of 593. The highest successful run-chase in first-class history at that point (and even now) was 541-7, West Zone gunning down a target of 536 in the 2010 Duleep Trophy final against South Zone. They had just over a day-and-a-half to get those runs.
Glamorgan threaten world record chase
Glamorgan started off well in their pursuit of 593. Eddie Byrom took his time with a patient 100-ball 37, while Billy Root attacked, scoring 46 off 57 balls.
Marnus Labuschagne then scored a hundred (119) at No.3, and was complemented by a bigger hundred by Sam Northeast (187) at No.5.
Northeast was the eighth wicket to fall, at the score of 544. Glamorgan needed another 49 runs for victory. Andy Gorvin was then dismissed at 561, with Mason Crane fighting it out at the other end.
It came down to two required off the last over of the match with Crane on strike. The first four balls of the over were dot balls by Dale, before Crane took an ill-fated single on the fifth to leave No.11 Mcllroy one run to get off the last ball.
Mcllroy only managed to edge it behind to Bracey, who took a memorable catch and set off for a sprint around the ground as the match ended in a tie.
Watch James Bracey take a screamer to end county match in tie
A remarkable finish to a remarkable game 🤯
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) July 3, 2024
And how about the catch from James Bracey without his right glove on! 👏 #CountyCricket2024 pic.twitter.com/G3GLQ2tzOq
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