LABUSCHAGNE HELPS GLAM TURN THE SCREW – BUT RAIN DELAYS VICTORY PUSH
AUSTRALIAN Test star Marnus Labuschagne posted his seventh century in the LV= Insurance County Championship for Glamorgan – a brilliant unbeaten 170 – as he led their push for victory on day three against Yorkshire at Headingley.
Labuschagne has regularly returned to Wales since first joining the county in 2019 – this is his fourth season as their overseas player.
And on this occasion he showed all his class and innovation as he warmed up for this summer’s Ashes with a 207-ball knock including 24 fours and a straight six, setting Yorkshire a victory target of 492 at tea.
The world number one ranked Test batter, aged 28, returned to the crease at the start of play unbeaten on seven, alongside third-wicket partner Sam Northeast on nought. From 57 for two, the pair went on complete a 148-run partnership, with Northeast making 66.
Labuschagne later shared an unbroken 130 with fifth-wicket partner Billy Root (51 not out) in his side’s 352 for four declared. Rain at tea then prevented Yorkshire’s chase from starting. Play was abandoned for the day at 5.45pm.
This was Labuschagne’s first 100 of the summer in his third match, and his second time beyond 50 in this fixture having posted a determined 65 in the first innings.
There was far more of a flourish and aggression about this innings as the Queenslander, who offered a half chance to a diving Fin Bean at backward point on 11, piled the pressure on a beleaguered Yorkshire attack.
They failed to exert any significant pressure and were missing linchpin seamer Ben Coad with a groin injury.
Off-spinner Dom Bess was targeted by Labuschagne and returned figures of nought for 76 from his only 10 overs of the match.
As lunch approached, Labuschagne reverse swept and swept three boundaries in one over against Bess, reaching his 50 off 88 balls with the first of them.
After the break, with Glamorgan resuming on 178 for two - a lead of 317, he also took on compatriot fast bowler Mickey Edwards.
Having scooped Jordan Thompson for four, he drove and flat batted Edwards down the ground.
Thompson had claimed
Yorkshire’s first wicket of the day, leaving Glamorgan 205 for three shortly after lunch when Northeast flashed a sharp catch to Saud Shakeel at backward point.
Northeast had initially led the alliance with Labuschagne, though by the time he departed his more storied partner had overtaken him in the 60s.
If Labuschagne plays like this consistently in the Ashes, albeit against an attack of much higher quality, he will cause Ben Stokes and company significant problems.
His six off Bess, lofted straight into the stand beneath the Clean Slate Pavilion was particularly memorable. By that time, he had reached his century off 142 balls and went on to reach 150 off 186.
This was his second highest score for Glamorgan, finishing just short of the 182 he scored against Sussex three years ago.
Matthew Fisher had Kiran Carlson caught behind by Jonny Bairstow for a duck – 222 for four.
Success for Yorkshire was few and far between. Their biggest triumph of the day was when the rain swept in at tea-time, preventing their chase from beginning.
Even with the likes of internationals Dawid Malan, Shakeel and Bairstow in their line-up, chasing down nearly 500 to win on a pitch which has offered something to bowlers all match is a fanciful idea.
The best they can surely now hope for is to bat out today’s final day for another stalemate.