Labuschagne injury scare, but Glam end opening day on top
MARNUS Labuschagne suffered a freak injury scare falling over some steps on what was otherwise a good day for Glamorgan in their LV= Insurance County Championship clash with Kent.
Australian superstar Labuschagne was back in the Glamorgan side after only arriving in Cardiff on Monday, but he suffered a hand problem when he fell entering the field before play started.
The third-best Test batsman in the world missed part of the afternoon session while his hand was assessed. He did return to the field as Kent were bowled out for just 138.
David Lloyd claimed four for 11 and Timm van der Gugten four for 41. Glamorgan ended day one 109 for two in response, trailing by just 29 runs. Labuschagne was dismissed for just 11.
Glamorgan won the toss and chose to field.
Kent openers Daniel BellDrummond and Jordan Cox put on an untroubled first-wicket stand of 54, but when Bell-Drummond was bowled by Van der Gugten for 31 it gave Glamorgan hope.
England batting coach Marcus Trescothick was in Cardiff to see Zak Crawley immediately into his stride when he got to the crease.
A four through mid-on was his best shot of the first session as he went to lunch unbeaten on 26.
But, at the other end, his team struggled as Lloyd dismissed Cox (30) and Joe Denly in the same over. Denly, now out of the England picture, was leg before wicket to Lloyd for a fourth-ball duck.
Michael Hogan also accounted for Jack Leaning (2) as Glamorgan
took three wickets for just five runs at the end of the first session.
Labuschagne didn’t return to the field after lunch, but Hogan continued to cause trouble and he soon dismissed Heino Kuhn lbw for eight.
Even without Labuschagne, Glamorgan were well on top and they grabbed the key wicket of Crawley as the first drops of rain came down at Sophia Gardens.
The returning Van der Gugten did the damage as Crawley nicked through to Chris Cooke for 33. Crawley’s departure was followed by the players leaving the field.
When they returned, Lloyd cleaned up Darren Stevens (5) and Ollie Robinson (17) was caught by Lloyd off the bowling of Van der Gugten as the Glamorgan pair wrapped up the innings.
Stevens immediately removed Joe Cooke without scoring and then trapped Labuschagne – whose hand injury seemed to be troubling him while batting – lbw for 11.
Lloyd was dropped at slip late on after a second rain break, but continued his impressive start to the season by finishing unbeaten on 54, with Billy Root on 34 not out.