Shaun Marsh century puts Glamorgan on top

Shaun Marsh displayed his class with an imperious century to put Glamorgan on top at the halfway point of their County Championship Division Two clash with Gloucestershire. The Australian international registered 18 fours in a classy innings of 111 at Bristol on a wicket that still has a degree of life left in it as Glamorgan reached 5-296 in response to their opponents' 236 all out. In reaching three figures midway through the final session, Marsh joins compatriots Matthew Elliott and Mark Cosgrove in having scored a first-class century on debut for the Welsh county. He is the 10th Glamorgan player to achieve the feat. It was not all plain sailing for the visitors as, resuming on 26 without loss, opening batsmen Nick Selman and Jack Murphy struggled for rhythm in a morning session eventually cut short by light rain. Although they were seldom in real trouble, they crept forward at a snail's pace as Gloucestershire, aided by the overcast conditions, bowled a decent line and length.The pair were prised apart with the score on 57 when Selman was bowled by Ryan Higgins for 28 off 66 balls.Thereafter, the day belonged to Marsh. Gloucestershire toiled in the afternoon sunshine as Murphy and the seemingly indomitable Marsh set about their task.The pair were cautious but positive in their approach and added 67 for the second wicket before Murphy was adjudged lbw to Graeme van Buuren for 47.