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.

End of Play Report

Having taken tea at 317-6, George Balderson and Tom Hartley resumed against Carlson and Crane, with both batters mixing caution with aggression, as they struck a trio of fierce drives. The new ball was taken after 88 overs with van der Gugten returning to the attack, but Hartley also on-drove the first delivery for four before Balderson inside-edged Harris to the ropes at fine-leg and through the hands of gully as he reached his fifty from 69 balls. By this time though he had been joined by Jack Blatherwick, but the latter only lasted a couple of balls before he departed l.b.w. to James Harris

368-8 then became 368-9 as Balderson was well caught at deep mid-wicket by Billy Root before Tom Bailey miscued van der Gugten to mid-wicket where ul Hassan completed a diving catch, giving the Dutch international a five-for, to go with his fifty on his 100th first-class appearance.

Glamorgan’s deficit stood at 109 as ul Hassan and Asa Tribe opened the batting with 17 overs remaining. The latter began with fours through mid-off and square-leg against Balderson, before ul Hassan clipped Bailey to the boards at square-leg. Tribe flicked Balderson to fine-leg for four before hitting successive deliveries from Jack Blatherwick to square-leg for four. Balderson then bowled Tribe for 25 as James Harris joined ul Hassan. His stay though proved to be a brief one as Jack Blatherwick trapped him l.b.w. with Sam Northeast coming out for the remaining sixteen balls.

Afternoon Update

Mason Crane struck with his second delivery against lunch as he had George Bell caught at slip by Colin Ingram as Glamorgan secured their first bowling point with Lancashire on 168-3. Having been joined by Matty Hurst, Wells drilled Crane through extra-cover for four, prior to on-driving van der Gugten as well as nurdling the Dutch international to third man for four. But the opener was snared by Crane as an l.b.w. appeal was upheld with Lancashire on 203-4.

Michael Jones joined Hurst and, after surviving an appeal for a stumping against Crane, he edged the leg-spinner to third man for four. Hurst twice cover-drove van der Gugten for four before Jones swept Crane for six, followed by a lofted on-drive for six. He then punched Harris through the covers for four and sweeping Crane for four. Leonard briefly returned but sustained an injury mid-over before Harris was drilled by Jones through the covers to wipe off the arrears.

Jones also pulled Kiran Carlson for four en route to a 42-ball fifty before doing the same to Crane, followed by a lofted off-drive for six. But his boundary-laden cameo came to an end as he departed l.b.w. to ul Hassan for 62. George Balderson joined Hurst but the latter, after bringing up the 300, was bowled by ul Hassan. Balderson then greeted the return of Crane by punching him off the front foot through the cover.

Yesterday was very much a carbon copy of events last week at Derby where Glamorgan had slipped to 99-6 in their first innings before a lower order rally saw past the 250-mark and a vital batting point. A morning of some probing seam bowling by the Lancashire attack had reduced the Welsh county to 114-6 at lunch before an afternoon revival led by Timm van der Gugten, who with valuable support from Mason Crane plus a cameo from Ned Leonard, Glamorgan reached 265 and added another batting point to their tally. (writes Andrew Hignell)

By the close the tall opening pair of Luke Wells and Keaton Jennings had taken Lancashire to 55-0 with each taking guard outside their crease and taking large forward strides to negate any lateral movement which the home attack might produce. Van der Gugten and Ned Leonard resumed the bowling duties with the latter being cover driven for four by Wells before Jennings reached 1,000 runs for the season by square-driving the Dutch international. Wells also pulled Leonard for four to reach the same milestone but next over, van der Gugten removed Jennings as he departed l.b.w. for 49.

Josh Bohannon made his way to the middle to join Wells who cover drove van der Gugten, before Bohannon struck the Dutch international for four. The bowler responded by re-arranging Bohannon’s stumps two balls later as George Bell became Wells’ new partner. He began by swatting Zain-ul-Hassan through the covers for four with Wells imperiously driving Harris through mid-off for four. Bell also cover-drove ul Hassan for four, before greeting the introduction of Mason Crane by sweeping the leg-spinner for four.

Wells completed his fifty from 115 balls with a single to mid-on against Crane with Bell also sweeping him for four

Close of Play Score

Glamorgan resumed after tea on 226-8, but Lancashire took the new ball and Balderson struck with his second ball and ended Crane’s cameo as an l.b.w appeal was upheld. The injured Ned Leonard valiantly made his way to the middle with his side leading by 118 runs before Cooke pulled Balderson for six to complete a patient 99-ball fifty, but next over he miscued the same shot against Bailey and was caught at mid-on.

This left Lancashire with a target of 133 in the remaining 26 overs today, and all of tomorrow’s 96 overs. Luke Wells began by square-driving van der Gugten for four prior to cover-driving James Harris for four and then pulling him to mid-wicket for another boundary. Keaton Jennings then on-drove James Harris for four prior to Wells drilling van der Gugten to long-on for four. But the bowler had the last laugh as later in the over he scythed the Dutch international to mid-on where Sam Northeast completed a juggling catch.

Having been joined by Josh Bohannon, Jennings launched van der Gugten over long-on for six before Bohannon nurdled him for four. Jennings then swatted Harris for four prior to depositing Harris over deep backward square-leg for six as well as carving him through extra-cover for four. Jennings then on-drove van der Gugten for six, but the introduction of Crane’s leg-spin ended his assault as he chipped a drive to Tribe at mid-wicket.

As Glamorgan switched to an all-spin attack, Bohannon pulled Carlson for four before sweeping Crane for four. He then drilled Carlson through long-off before harpooning Crane for four, but a couple of balls later he was bowled trying to repeat the stroke. 109-3 saw the arrival of Matty Hurst and together with George Bell they whittled away at the target with a series of singles. Hurst struck Tribe for two fours before, with five needed Northeast turned his arm over for the final time in Glamorgan colours and was pulled for four by Hurst as Lancashire won by seven wickets.

Teatime Report

Glamorgan resumed on 118-4 after lunch, with a lead of just 9 runs as Kiran Carlson and Colin Ingram facing the seam of George Balderson and the spin of Tom Hartley. The former though took two wickets in four balls as Carlson edged to Keaton Jennings at second slip and Billy Root was trapped leg before. 129-6 saw the arrival of Chris Cooke who began with a series of singles before punching Balderson off the back foot through mid-off, followed by a classical cover drive for four.

Ingram continued to deftly work the ball around for singles before cover-driving Tom Aspinwall. He also pulled Tom Bailey for four before Cooke nurdled Balderson for four to bring up the fifty stand. But with the total on 179 Aspinwall trapped Ingram l.b.w. for 37. It then became 189-8 as van der Gugten square-cut Aspinwall into George Bell’s hands at point. Mason Crane joined Cooke and began by on-driving Balderson before slapping Aspinwall through the covers.

Crane then cover-drove Jack Blatherwick for four before pulling the bowler for four. He then repeated the stroke against Hartley.

Morning Update

Shortly before five o’clock yesterday afternoon the destiny of the coveted Division One title in the Rothesay County Championship was decided at Trent Bridge as Kyle Verreynne joyously pulled a ball for six to secure a second batting point for Nottinghamshire who now have an unassailable lead over second-placed Surrey. Ten minutes earlier at Sophia Gardens, Glamorgan – who will be sparring with the big guns of Championship cricket next summer – began their second innings against Lancashire, 109 runs in arrears on first innings, but having gained a full clutch of bowling points thanks to the sterling work of their ever-reliable and faithful Timm van der Gugten who, on his 100th first-class appearance claimed 5/85 to go with his first innings half-century. (writes Andrew Hignell)

By the close Glamorgan’s batters had reduced the deficit to 68 but in the process had lost Asa Tribe and night-watcher James Harris, so the first task this morning was for Zain ul Hassan and Sam Northeast, in his final innings in Glamorgan colours to stabilise the innings. George Balderson and Tom Bailey resumed the bowling duties. The batters duly accumulated in one’s and two’s with Northeast also nurdling Balderson for three to third man. ul Hassan also square-drove Aspinwall for four before Northeast drilled him through mid-off for four.

ul Hassan then on-drove Aspinwall for four before Northeast pulled Blatherwick for four, followed by a cover-driven four from ul Hassan against Aspinwall to bring up the 50-stand. He then square-drove a no-ball from Blatherwick for another coruscating boundary. But with the total on 95, Blatherwick trapped Northeast l.b.w. for 21, thereby ending Northeast’s final innings for the county with the Club’s captain walking off to a standing ovation.

95-3 saw the arrival of Kiran Carlson with ul Hassan continuing to find the ropes as he again square-drove Blatherwick, but with the total on 103 ul Hassan reverse-swept Tom Hartley with Keaton Jennings taking a good low catch. Colin Ingram announced his arrival with a pair of scorching square-drives against Aspinwall.