Western Mail

Will three be magic number for Glam?

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GLAMORGAN will make their first trip to Chester-le-Street for a County Championsh­ip fixture in 13 years when they take on Durham tomorrow, writes Dominic Booth.

The Welsh county are seeking a third successive four-day victory after a nail-biting triumph over the same opponents in Swansea a fortnight ago and a victory over inform Worcesters­hire.

The hot streak has seen Glamorgan gain 46 points from a possible 48 in Division Two with former South African Test opener Jacques Rudolph seemingly liberated at the top of the order.

Rudolph retired the Championsh­ip captaincy to concentrat­e on his batting, and hit a timely century — his first in four-day cricket for two years — against Worcesters­hire at New Road last week. His opening partner Nick Selman had starred with a hundred in that Swansea clash which came right down to the wire.

It means new skipper Michael Hogan boasts a 100 per cent record in his two matches at the helm.

“That handover of the captaincy had been successful and it was the right time for change as both players (Rudolph and Hogan) are now working together as leader and senior profession­al with the younger players benefiting,” said head coach Robert Croft, who has continued to watch young Welsh talents thrive in the first team.

Spin bowler Andrew Salter has enjoyed a return to form, while young paceman Lukas Carey is one of the stories of Glamorgan’s season. The two wins have put the county in contention for a possible Division Two promotion slot; an unlikely feat considerin­g their poor 2016 form in the longer format and the chequered start made to this season, which was plagued by batting problems.

Glamorgan’s clash with Durham gets underway at 11am.

 ??  ?? Sarfraz Ahmed of Pakistan celebrates with Imad Wasim after taking the prized wicket of MS Dhoni
Sarfraz Ahmed of Pakistan celebrates with Imad Wasim after taking the prized wicket of MS Dhoni

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