Glam tumble to quickfire defeat

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE needed just 33 overs of the final day to take the last six Glamorgan wickets and complete a 233-run victory in Cardiff.

A second successive win took Northants off the foot of the Specsavers County Championship Division Two table, but the hosts have now lost four of their last five four-day games, having only won one of eight Royal London One-Day Cup fixtures.

Glamorgan were again let down by their batting, with Usman Khawaja’s first-innings century their only score above 40 in the match, and they were bowled out for 200 in their second innings.

Resuming on 121 for four, the Welsh side soon lost night-watchman Timm van der Gugten, who played back to Seekkuge Prasanna and was trapped leg-before-wicket.

Kiran Carlson was fortunate to survive against the Sri Lankan leg-spinner, twice edging deliveries wide of the slip cordon.

He was joined by Chris Cooke, who appeared more comfortable against Prasanna, twice striking him through extra cover for four.

The fifth-wicket pair had added 48 before Carlson, aiming to drive expansively at a wide ball, edged one in Brett Hutton’s opening over of the morning to wicketkeeper Adam Rossington after scoring 32.

Cooke was the next to go when he was bowled by Hutton, the batsman undone by a ball that kept very low, with Cooke ending up almost on his knees as he tried unsuccessfully to get his bat down in time.

The procession continued as Nathan Buck came on and, with his first ball, trapped Ruaidhri Smith lbw.

When Prem Sisodiya was caught at silly mid-off to give Prasanna his fourth wicket, the players shook hands as Glamorgan captain Michael Hogan was absent hurt and unable to bat.

Prasanna was the pick of the Northants attack with figures of four for 49.

Glamorgan head coach Robert Croft said: “This defeat had a common thread that we need to improve on.

“We are not capitalising on the starts we are having, whether it’s a lack of concentration or inexperience.

“We are developing a young team that I’m sure will improve, but possibly we might have to bring in a senior player into the team for the next game or two.

“But we will now see how the T20 competition goes and hope we can replicate last year’s success.”

Glamorgan begin their T20 Vitality Blast campaign with a trip to face Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl in Southamptonon July 6, with a first home clash with Sussex on July 8 at Sophia Gardens