Thrilling Tie: Glamorgan and Gloucestershire End in a Stalemate

Glamorgan narrowly missed making history in a thrilling Vitality County Championship Second Division match against Gloucestershire, which concluded in a rare tie at Cheltenham.

Chasing a world-record target of 593, Glamorgan levelled the scores but fell just short when last man Jamie McIlroy needed a single off the final delivery. He edged Ajeet Singh Dale's ball, and wicketkeeper James Bracey, who had a standout game, caught it to secure the tie and spark jubilant scenes among the home crowd at the College Ground.

Sam Northeast's brilliant 187 and Marnus Labuschagne's 119 set Glamorgan up to chase the highest run chase in history, surpassing the 536 chased by West Zone in the Duleep Trophy against South Zone in 2010. However, Gloucestershire's bowlers held their nerve, with Matt Taylor taking 3 for 120, including the crucial wicket of Northeast, leaving Glamorgan needing 32 runs from 10 overs. Mason Crane's unbeaten 43 provided hope, but Singh Dale's composed final over denied Glamorgan the win.

This tied match, the first in English county cricket in six years, saw both teams earn 11 points. Glamorgan set a record for the highest fourth-innings score in any first-class match in England and the third-highest worldwide.

Resuming their second innings with seven wickets remaining, Glamorgan's hopes largely rested on Labuschagne and Northeast. The pair batted cautiously in the first hour, steadily scoring and keeping the scoreboard moving. Northeast reached his fifty off 70 balls, and Labuschagne soon followed, hitting three boundaries in a rare loose over from Marchant de Lange. Labuschagne's century came off 148 balls, but he was dismissed before lunch by Beau Webster, caught at leg gully by Cameron Bancroft after scoring 119 off 165 balls.

Glamorgan reached 341-4 at lunch, but Chris Cooke fell soon after, caught brilliantly by Bracey off Taylor's bowling. Northeast, however, continued his relentless pursuit, reaching his hundred off 162 balls. He found support from Dan Douthwaite, who contributed 39 in a 105-run partnership before falling to Ollie Price.

Needing 140 runs from 38.4 overs in the final session, Glamorgan's chances remained alive with Northeast at the crease. He reached 150 off 225 balls, and Glamorgan surpassed Cambridge University's 128-year-old record for the highest fourth-innings score in England, set against MCC at Lord's in June 1896. Tim van der Gugten added 31 before being caught behind off Singh Dale, leaving Glamorgan needing 84 runs from 22.4 overs. Northeast's marathon innings ended when Taylor found the edge, and Bracey took his ninth catch of the match. Northeast's innings included 22 fours and spanned 277 balls.

With 49 runs needed, Crane and Gorvin came together. Gorvin was bowled by de Lange for 7, leaving Crane to steer the chase. McIlroy's edge off Webster for four brought the target within reach, but Singh Dale's final over thwarted Glamorgan. Crane remained unbeaten on 43 from 85 balls, as McIlroy's edge and Bracey's catch ended the match in a thrilling tie.