Glam’s promotion hopes hit by heavy defeat at Worcester
A POOR batting display saw Glamorgan plunge to defeat to Worcestershire yesterday, putting a huge dent in their hopes of promotion from Specsavers County Championship Division Two.
A century from Daryl Mitchell earned the home side a 155-run success at Blackfinch New Road, their first Championship win since midMay
Mitchell struck an excellent 139, spanning six hours, and the veteran opener formed the bedrock of Worcestershire’s second innings total of 299 all out.
Glamorgan were left a target of 312 and Joe Leach, Ed Barnard, Charlie Morris and Moeen Ali worked their way through their batting line-up in double quick time as they were dismissed for 156 in 38.2 overs.
The defeat was their third heavy setback in a row after going under by innings and 150 runs to Lancashire and 256 runs to Middlesex.
Leach immediately put Glamorgan on the back foot when they began their reply.
Nick Selman (0) edged the second ball of the innings to Mitchell at second slip and Tom Cullen (5) pushed forward and was bowled.
In between, Cullen had also been involved in a mix-up with Kragg Brathwaite (0) which resulted in the latter being run out by Barnard’s direct hit from cover with both batsmen stranded at the non-striker’s end.
Barnard came into the attack and accounted for David Lloyd (29) after he looked to turn him on the on-side and lost his leg bail.
Then Samit Patel (7) played a similar shot against the England Lions player and was lbw.
Morris followed up his five wickets in the first innings with two wickets in an over as Billy Root (26) drove loosely to Barnard at point – a chance held at the second attempt – and Ruaidhri Smith (4) went lbw.
It became 128-8 when Timm van der Gugten (13) attempted a pull against Adam Finch and skied a chance to Moeen Ali at mid-wicket and then the England allrounder bowled Chris Cooke (45) after he went for a drive.
Moeen ended proceedings when Lukas Carey (12) was pouched on the mid-wicket boundary.
Earlier, Mitchell had ended a lean spell with the bat by completing his second Championship century of the campaign.
His only other Championship hundred of the summer had been achieved in his very first innings of 2019 against Leicestershire at the Fischer County Ground.
Worcestershire resumed on 153-2 and Mitchell and Jack Haynes (31) extended their partnership to 69 in 34 overs before the latter tried to sweep Patel and was lbw.
Patel struck again with a delivery which popped on Alex Milton (5), with keeper Cooke grabbing the chance at the second attempt.
Riki Wessels made a quickfire 32 before he was trapped lbw by Michael Hogan, who collected another scalp when keeper Ben Cox (0) was caught behind.
Van der Gugten held onto a return catch from Barnard (6) and then Leach (4) clipped the same bowler to midwicket.
Morris (1) was bowled by Patel, who finished with 4-59 from 30 overs, and the innings ended with Mitchell short of his ground going for a second run after a mix-up with Adam Finch.