Masood misses record after Labuschagne hits century

DERBYSHIRE’S Shan Masood fell agonisingly short of a world record on the third day of the LV=Insurance County Championship match against Glamorgan at Derby.

The Pakistan opener was out for 42, failing by three to beat the most firstclass runs in April set by Nick Compton who scored 715 for Somerset in 2012.

Marnus Labuschagne had earlier scored 130 from 199 balls out of Glamorgan’s 387 with Sri Lankan fast bowler Suranga Lakmal taking 5 for 82.

Derbyshire wiped out the slender deficit of 19 and with Wayne Madsen cruising to an unbeaten 58, they closed on 170 for 2, a lead of 151.

For a while, it looked doubtful if Masood would even get the chance to break the record as Labuschagne and = Timm van der Gugten batted through the first 20 overs of the day.

Labuschagne was beaten a couple of times by Ryan Sidebottom but the Australian played some sublime drives as he moved to his sixth hundred for Glamorgan from 137 balls. The stand was worth 82 from 22 overs when van der Gugten tried to hit leg-spinner Mattie McKiernan, but failed to clear long-on.

Glamorgan’s prospects of a substantial lead disappeared with the second new ball. Chris Cooke was lbw playing back to Conners and although Tom Cullen was dropped second ball at first slip, he played on to Lakmal in the second over after lunch.

Michael Neser got a leading edge, Lakmal trapped Labuschagne lbw and after some firm blows from the lastwicket pair, all eyes were on Masood.

The last over before tea began with Masood needing three runs to enter the record books, but the first ball seamed away and lifted to take his outside edge and Cooke made no mistake.

James Harris replaced van der Gugten, who pulled up and left the field, and had Billy Godleman caught behind but was then savaged by Madsen who hit four boundaries in the over which cost 20.