Glam find form with the bat at long last

GLAMORGAN, still searching for their second victory in Division Two of the Specsavers County Championship, reached 331 for eight at the close of the first day against Leicestershire at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff.

In stark contrast to this season, the Welsh county built a series of solid partnerships to set the foundations of the innings, with five in excess of 50, a rarity for them in Championship cricket this season.

But it was Leicestershire who took control on the first morning, as Glamorgan ended on 109 for three at lunch.

First-class debutant fast bowler Tom Taylor had picked up his first two scalps in the morning, dismissing Nick Selman and Jack Murphy cheaply, as an all too familiar tale of batting woes for Glamorgan had looked set to continue. Taylor struck in successive overs, striking Nick Selman in front, before Jack Murphy holed out to Ben Mike at backward point to leave the Welsh side struggling on 32-2.

On the stroke of lunch, Cook, who had only previously managed a highest score of 20 for the Welsh side, was leg before to Callum Parkinson for 36, as Glamorgan found themselves 96 for three. Carlson remained at the crease on 48, with seven fours to his name from 67 balls.

They secured their first batting point at Sophia Gardens since June during the afternoon session. Kiran Carlson brought up his 70-ball halfcentury with his eighth boundary in the first over of the afternoon from Dieter Klein, and he raced to 61 with two further fours.

The boundaries flowed in the 32nd over, as Carlson drove Taylor either side of the wicket in consecutive deliveries before finding the ropes again two balls later and again in the following over, driving Ben Mike through backward point for the fifteenth boundary of his innings.

Carlson’s dogged resistance ended, however, when he was bowled by Mike for 83. Lawlor, off the mark from his nineteenth delivery, soon followed, leg before to Dieter Klein for two, as Glamorgan lost two wickets for no runs.

When Craig Meschede and Chris Cooke came together at 148 for five, another rescue mission was required and they duly obliged with a fifty partnership in 10.1 overs securing Glamorgan’s first batting point since the game against Warwickshire at Colwyn Bay in late August.

A sixth wicket fell on 207, however, when Chris Cooke was caught behind off Gavin Griffiths for 27 Glamorgan reached 228 for six at tea. Having waited a month since their last batting point, Glamorgan obtained a second as Graham Wagg and Craig Meschede, for the seventh wicket, guided their side beyond 250.