Close of Play Report

James Harris continued Glamorgan’s defiance after tea by square-cutting Jack Blatherwick for four prior to nurdling Tom Bailey for four through backward point as Glamorgan approached a batting point, but with the total on 245, Bailey bowled Crane for a valiant 42. Ned Leonard joined Harris and saw Glamorgan to the 250-mark as he outside-edged Blatherwick through the slips for four, followed by a pair of cultured drives off the backfoot for four through the covers. But, with the total on 265, Bailey bowled Leonard and completed his five-for.

Keaton Jennings and Luke Wells opened the batting for the Red Roses with the former striking successive fours against Harris to long-off and extra-cover before straight-driving van der Gugten for four, as well as pulling ul Hassan through mid-wicket, followed by a regal drive square of the wicket and a fierce pull for four to the ropes at mid-wicket.

Afternoon Update

Lancashire’s decision to bowl first had been vindicated as Glamorgan went to lunch on 114-6 with the Red Roses eager to make further inroads after the interval. George Balderson resumed the bowling and was nurdled for four by van der Gugten before Cooke punched Jack Blatherwick through extra-cover for four. The Dutch international then pulled Blatherwick for four followed a couple of balls later by a rasping square-cut for another boundary.

Tom Bailey, who had claimed a wicket with his first ball of the day, and another with the second of his comeback spell, then returned the attack and trapped Cooke l.b.w. with his first delivery as Glamorgan slipped to 143-7. Having been joined by Mason Crane, van der Gugten pulled Bailey for four prior to greeting the return of Tom Aspinwall by doing the same. Crane also edged Aspinwall for four before opening his shoulders and plonking Hartley high over long on for six.

Van der Gugten also drilled Aspinwall through the covers for four before Crane continued his own cameo by doing the same, followed by a crisp flick to the boards at square-leg. Van der Gugten then clipped Josh Bohannon behind square for a single to complete his invaluable fifty from 105 balls. But a couple of overs later, Balderson returned to the attack and had an l.b.w. appeal upheld against van der Gugten. 225-8 saw James Harris make his way to the middle with he and Crane taking the Welsh county to 228-8 at tea.

Morning Report

As the season wanes into autumn, 173 days after the start of the four-day competition in the first week of April, and the sun starts it’s slow journey away from the long shadows of late summer, Glamorgan meet Lancashire safe in the knowledge that, after events last week at Derby, Leicester and Bristol, they have secured promotion into Division One of the blue riband of the professional game for the first time since September 2004 (writes Andrew Hignell)

Glamorgan made two changes to the side which was involved in the rain-affected contest at Derby last week with Ned Leonard and Mason Crane replacing Andy Gorvin and Asitha Fernando. However, it was the regular pairing of Zain ul Hassan and Asa Tribe who faced the Red Roses new ball attack of Tom Bailey and Jack Blatherwick. Bailey struck with his first delivery as he bowled ul Hassan but both Tribe and Sam Northeast responded by each clipping balls behind square-leg for four, whilst Tribe punched Blatherwick off the back foot through four for four.

But with the total on 20, Blatherwick found the edge of Tribe’s bat and Matty Hurst completed a regulation catch. Kiran Carlson began by clipping Blatherwick to fine-leg for four before steering him through backward point for four. George Balderson then replaced Blatherwick and with his third delivery he trapped Northeast l.b.w. 49-3 saw Colin Ingram join Carlson who reached 1,000 first-class runs for the summer by late cutting Tom Hartley for three.

After being dropped at cover, Ingram also cover drove Hartley for four before Carlson did the same to Balderson, He also square-cut Balderson for four before Ingram straight-drove Hartley for four. But next over, Balderson re-arranged Ingram’s stumps as the batter inside-edged a delivery. 77-4 then became 85-5 as Tom Aspinwall trapped Carlson leg before. Chris Cooke then arrived in the middle and struck Aspinall through backward point for four, before a trio of nurdles to the vacant third man position.

Bailey duly returned to the attack and with his second delivery removed Root who edged a square-cut into Hurst’s gloves with the total on 103. Having been joined by Timm van der Gugten on his 100th first-class appearance, Cooke straight drove Aspinwall for a pair of fours shortly before the lunch interval.