James Bracey feels "extremely disappointed" despite taking brilliant catch to secure final-ball tie

Glamorgan and Gloucestershire served up an exceptional record-breaking tie on the final ball of their County Championship Division Two clash in Cheltenham as the visitors fell one run short of the highest ever first class chase

Cheltenham (day four of four): Gloucestershire 179 & 610-5 dec, Glamorgan 197 & 592 - Match Tied

Gloucestershire wicketkeeper James Bracey feels "extremely disappointed" despite pulling off a brilliant one handed catch to tie the game on the final ball against Glamorgan.

The two teams served up an exceptional record-breaking tie on the final ball of their County Championship Division Two clash in Cheltenham. The combined first innings scores were 376 before the two teams made 1,202 runs in their second innings. 

Bracey told the ECB Reporters Network: "We should probably have won the game at the end, but going into that last ball it is probably eight points gained rather than eight lost."

Set an improbable 593 for victory, Glamorgan fell just one run short as they achieved the highest first-class fourth innings score in England. 

With just one run required and No.11 Jamie McIlroy on strike, Ajeet Singh Dale found the edge and Bracey took the catch. It was all the more brilliant as Bracey had removed his wicketkeeping glove.

The wicket denied Glamorgan the highest chase in first class history. 

Their score of 592 was the third-highest fourth innings total in first class history and the match was the 69th tie in first class history. 

^{Glamorgan captain Sam Northeast's 187 had put his side on course for victory before he was dismissed (Dan Mullan/Getty Images)}

There were final day hundreds for Marnus Labuschagne (119) and Sam Northeast (187) to give the Welsh county a glimmer of hope. When the latter fell to Matt Taylor, Gloucestershire looked on course for victory but Mason Crane's fighting knock of 43 not out took the game to the final ball. 

The former England keeper, who became the first wicketkeeper to take ten catches and score a double hundred in first class cricket, added: "When we were 88-8 on the first day, you would not have foreseen the match going to the final ball and you would not have envisaged a near 600-run chase.

"It's been pretty remarkable on all fronts. That bit of life in the pitch went after the first day and both sides then batted really well. Marnus [Labuschagne] and Sam [Northeast] batted superbly for them and three of our guys made hundreds, so the quality was there for all to see.

"We couldn't have perceived 592 being chased, so fair play to Glamorgan for an amazing effort."

Glamorgan coach Grant Bradburn was proud of his team for striving for victory throughout the mammoth chase but felt "hollow" after being involved in his first red-ball tie. 

He spoke to the ECB Reporters Network: "It's the first time I've been involved in a red ball tie and it feels a bit hollow to score so many and not get over the line."

The former New Zealand international, added: "I'm super proud of the players in terms of that willingness to hunt the victory and not fear failure. For us, it's about how many games we win in this competition, not how many we lose."

It is not the first time their captain Sam Northeast has produced a long innings this season as he made an unbeaten 335 against Middlesex at Lord's.

Bradburn praised his efforts: "He has an immense mental ability to stay within that and he showed that today. He is bitterly disappointed that he couldn't stay out there and see us through to a victory."

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