Alex Gidman passed 1,000 first-class runs for the season during a nerve-tingling final day of the LV County Championship match with Glamorgan at Cardiff.

The Gloucestershire skipper took his tally for the summer to 1.013 – at an average of 46 – by scoring 52 as his side closed on 281-9, having been set 294 to win.

Glamorgan took 12 points from the game, while Gloucestershire CCC's nine leaves them sixth in Division Two, but only 11 points behind second-placed Essex going into the final round of fixtures.

Gidman said: "On a personal level I'm delighted to have reached 1,000 runs because it is a target I set every season, but more importantly I feel very proud of the team.

"After being outplayed by Glamorgan on the first two days we battled really hard on the last two and so nearly pulled off a tremendous victory.

"There was so much for us to take out of the game, even though there were mixed emotions at the end. It was a fantastic match on a wicket that gave a bit of assistance to everyone and we showed we can turn a game around.

"We are still in contention for runners-up spot and promotion going into our final fixture against Kent at Bristol and that is what I have asked of the side all season.

"It represents real progress. We may need other results to go our way, but we will set out to get maxiumum points from the Kent match and see where it takes us."

Gloucestershire were set a target of 296 to chase on the final day in Cardiff but fell agonisingly short on 281-9 as both sides searched for the victory to take them into the promotion places.

Glamorgan chose not to bat on after declaring overnight, leaving them with 96 overs to bowl out Gloucestershire.

James Harris struck in the third over, when James Allenby took a smart slip catch to dismiss Steve Adshead.

Harris then took the wicket of former New Zealand international Hamish Marshall, whose whirlwind innings of 35 from 29 balls was ended by a smart leg-side catch from Mark Wallace.

Gidman then took centre stage, passing fifty in 73 balls, before being caught by Gareth Rees off Robert Croft for 52. The run-rate slowed as Chris Taylor joined the patient Will Porterfield at the crease with a fourth-wicket partnership of 37 in 20 overs, before captain Jamie Dalrymple struck in his second over, when Taylor's forcing drive was brilliantly caught by Allenby at slip. Dalrymple struck again when he trapped James Franklin lbw. Gloucestershire were five wickets down, with 119 runs still required for victory.

Kadeer Ali, batting down the order after injury, joined Porterfield, who was eventually caught by Allenby at third slip off Croft.

Richard Dawson struck some lusty blows for his 15 before Will Bragg's catch at cover gave Croft his third victim and Garnett Kruger delivered a brilliant yorker to dismiss Kadeer.

Allenby dropped Steve Kirby with Gloucestershire 43 runs short of their target before Jon Lewis was caught behind in the penultimate over from Dalrymple for 28. Kirby survived the last over from Kruger to save the match.

Gloucestershire CCC have decided to release young pace bowler Tom Stayt at the end of the season.

The 23-year-old Salisbury-born seamer has been told his contract will not be renewed and follows batsman Grant Hodnett and leg-spinner Matt Gitsham in being allowed to leave.