Morris in driving seat

Glamorgan 233-0 v Gloucestershire

Glamorgan openers Steve James and Hugh Morris both plundered unbeaten centuries in a one-sided first day of the Britannic Assurance County Championship match with Gloucestershire at Bristol.

The pair steered their county to 233 in 72 overs against a bowling attack that made no impression on the flat wicket. There was no play until after lunch due to rain, although the wicket stayed dry under the overs and the Glamorgan captain, Matthew Maynard, decided to bat when he won the toss.

The West Indian pace bowler Courtney Walsh had only three runs scored off him in an opening burst of five overs with a stiff breeze behind him. But later on when a bowler got past the bat it was worth a round of applause from the field.

Both batsmen gave early half-chances and James had to survive an attempted stumping, but they quickly settled into a punishing routine. The first 100 took them 41 overs and the next 50 runs in another 13 before they dashed to 200 in just six.

They got there with the help of Andrew Symonds bowling seam up, who went for 18 in the 60th over. The Anglo-Aussie was quickly replaced by Martin Ball, whose off-spin was at least economical with 31 runs scored from 17 overs.

James was first to his 100, his third this season and 20th in his career, with 13 fours in four hours. Facing slightly fewer balls Morris took 20 minutes longer, but the left-hander had 15 boundaries in his century. By the close James was on 114 with his partner having made 103.