GLAMORGAN v NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

Northamptonshire were 128-4 when rain ended play in mid-afternoon after the visitors opted to bat first against Glamorgan on the opening day of their LV=Insurance County Championship match at Sophia Gardens.

Afternoon Report

Northamptonshire had reached 81-2 at the interval after a decent morning of red-ball cricket with Glamorgan’s bowlers finding assistance under the heavy cloud cover and posing questions for the visiting batsmen. Michael Neser and Timm van der Gugten resumed the bowling with Charlie Thurston punching Neser through extra-cover for four. But van der Gugten claimed this third wicket and Glamorgan’s first bowling point with his third delivery as Rob Keogh edged to first slip where Billy Root completed a waist-high catch.

87-3 then became 94-4 as Luke Procter departed l.b.w. playing half-forward to Neser. Having been joined by Saif Zaib, Thurston cover-drove van der Gugten before his new partner on drove the Australian. The cloud cover had however increased since lunch and light drizzle was starting to fall as Michael Hogan returned at the Cathedral Road End. Zaib also off drove van der Gugten for four, whilst Thurston punched Hogan off the back foot through backward point. Zaib also clipped but the precipitation intensified with the players leaving the field during the 45th over.

The rain continued to fall for the rest of the afternoon with play called off for the rest of the day at 4.30pm.

Morning update

On the day when Italy are hoping to become the first nation to complete the double of winning the European Football Championship and the Eurovision Song contest in the same year, Glamorgan start their final group games in this summer’s revamped County Championship safe in the knowledge that they will be playing in the second tier of games when the competition splits into three divisions at the end of August with their draw earlier this week at Hove also consigning Sussex to the third tier.

The Welsh county made two changes to their line-up as they welcomed back Marnus Labuschagne and Michael Neser, now out of self-isolation, with the Aussie duo making their final appearance of the summer before heading home. Neser was swiftly into the action sharing new ball duties with Michael Hogan as Ricardo Vasconcelos and Emilio Gay opened the batting for the East Midlands side. Vasconcelos square-drove the opening ball just over the head of Andrew Salter at backward point.

Both bowlers beat the outside edge on several occasions during their opening salvo’s before Gay clipped Neser to square-leg for four. Timm van der Gugten replaced Hogan at the River End with Dan Douthwaite also operating at the Cathedral Road End and being cover driven for four by Vasconcelos before being drilled to the boards at long-off by Gay. The latter also thick edged van der Gugten wide of third slip for four but next ball he was not so fortunate as he feathered a ball into Chris Cooke’s gloves.

40-1 saw the arrival of Charlie Thurston who began with a brace of singles, whilst Vasconcelos appeared to be rattled by a couple of play and misses against van der Gugten. It came as no surprise that next over he became the second man to depart as – with the total on 55 - he chipped a delivery from the Dutchman into the hands of Kiran Carlson at mid-wicket. His departure saw Rob Keogh make his way to the middle and he began with a four to square-leg against Douthwaite followed by a leg-glance against David Lloyd.

Glamorgan were 52-2 when rain ended play shortly after tea on the second day of their LV=Insurance County Championship match against Northamptonshire at Sophia Gardens after dismissing the visitors for 215 with Andrew Salter returning career-best figures of 4/18 as the visitors lost their last five wickets for 34 runs.

Evening Update

Play resumed at 16.00pm with Glamorgan on 48-2 and 44.4 overs remaining in the day’s quota as Jack White continued the bowling at the Cathedral Road with Luke Procter operating at the River End. Marnus Labuschagne deftly nurdled White to third man for four but in the next over the rains returned as the players left the field again at 16.10pm. The rains continued to fall and with no let-up in the precipitation, the umpires called off play for the day shortly after 1700pm.

Afternoon Update

Northamptonshire were 197-8 at lunch but with Gareth Berg injured this was, in effect, 197-9 as Jack White and Harry Gouldstone resumed, seeking three more runs for a batting point. White duly did this to the first ball of the session as he cover drove Andrew Salter for four followed by an on-drive to the ropes later in the over. Gouldstone also cover-drove Douthwaite for a pair of boundaries but next over Salter ended the innings by having White caught at long-on by van der Gugten as the Northants innings ended on 215.

Joe Cooke and David Lloyd began the Glamorgan innings as White was swiftly back in the action sharing the bowling duties with Ben Sanderson. Cooke on-drove the latter for the first boundary before three overs later Lloyd repeated the shot. Cooke also off-drove White but in Sanderson’s next over he edged to Vasconcelos at first slip as Marnus Labuschagne made his way to the middle.

28-1 then became 32-2 as Vasconcelos pouched his second catch as Lloyd edged Luke Procter, with his departure seeing Billy Root join Labuschagne who square-drove Sanderson for four before Root nurdled Procter to the vacant third man position. But on 48-2 a heavy shower forced the players off the field for an early tea.

Morning Update

In previewing England’s match against Italy at Wembley last night, the weekend newspapers were hoping that 11 July 2021 might rank alongside 30 July 1966 as a red letter day in the nation’s sporting history. For Glamorgan’s cricketers that summer’s day 51 years ago witnessed one of the finest innings played by a Welsh-born batsman as Alan Jones made an imperious 161* against the West Indians at Swansea. But it was the Welsh county’s bowlers who were in action yesterday, albeit briefly, as Northamptonshire made 128-4 on a day trimmed by rain to just 44.5 overs.

There was however plenty of cut and thrust, as well as an exemplary spell by Timm van der Gugten at the River End during which the Dutchman took 3/9 in 30 balls which pegged the visitors back after they had made a decent start. With overnight rain having fallen and drizzle having greeted the players as they arrived at Sophia Gardens at 0900, the umpires made an inspection at 1000 as the skies started to clear. With mopping up operations taking place out in the middle, they looked again at 1100 and agreed that play would commence at 1130 with 96.1 overs remaining in the days quota.

With Gareth Berg being head coach of the Italian cricket team, and Emilio Gay also having links with the Mediterranean country, there were some smiles on the faces of the visiting team as they began their warm-ups, but unfortunately Berg turned his ankle over and had to be carried off for medical treatment.

Michael Neser and Timm van Gugten resumed the bowling with the latter being cover-driven by Saif Zaib before the former was clipped to square-leg by Charlie Thurston followed by a punched drive through the covers later in the over. Zaib also square-cut Neser for four before on-driving van der Gugten with aplomb en route to a 92-ball fifty. But Hogan returned and removed Thurston courtesy of a spectacular tumbling catch in the gully by Billy Root. 181-5 immediately became 181-6 as Zaib drove Andrew Salter low to extra cover where Marnus Labuschagne held the ball inches above the turf.

As Berg was still incapacitated, Simon Kerrigan joined Harry Gouldstone with the visitors still seeking their first batting point. Neser returned and nearly had the latter caught at short-leg by Kiran Carlson. But with the total on 191, Kerrigan on-drove Salter into the hands of van der Gugten at mid-on as Ben Sanderson joined Gouldstone. But shortly before lunch Sanderson departed l.b.w. to Salter with his side on 197-8

A record fifth wicket stand of 307 in 72.2 overs between Kiran Carlson (170*) and Chris Cooke (133*) helped Glamorgan to 462-4 at the close of the third day of their LV=Insurance County Championship match against Northamptonshire at Sophia Gardens, with the Welsh county leading by 247 runs.

Close of Play Report

Glamorgan had taken tea on 295-4 from 82 overs with Northants starting the session by taking the new ball as Ben Sanderson and Jack White returned to the attack. Another flowing cover drive by Carlson saw the Welsh county to another batting point as the 300-mark was reached before five runs later a deft flick to fine-leg by the young tyro brought up the 150-stand.

Carlson then hooked Sanderson to long-leg for four before drilling White through extra-cover for another sumptuous four. He duly reached his hundred next over by pulling Luke Procter for four – his 11th boundary and 151st delivery, before Cooke survived a sharp chance in the gully as Simon Kerrigan failed, despite several jugging efforts to hold onto a fierce cut. He celebrated his good fortune by straight driving Sanderson later in the over to bring up the 350 and another batting point before Carlson clipped Procter to square-leg to bring up the double-century stand.

Carlson also cut Jack White for four besides continuing to scamper some swift singles as the left-arm spin of Kerrigan was re-introduced at the River End. But during the 99th over the rains briefly returned as the players left the field with Glamorgan on 368-4 with another couple of overs being lost. The pair though continued their doughty stand with the 400 and a full set of bonus points came up in the 106th over before Cooke reaching his hundred from 186 balls by cutting Saif Zaib.

When the total reached 404, the partnership became a new Club record for the fifth wicket against Northamptonshire beating the 248 added by Keith Newell and Adrian Dale at Northampton, 2001 and on 420 a cover drive by Cooke against Zaib saw it also became an all-time best beating the 264 added by Maurice Robinson and Stan Montgomery against Hampshire at Bournemouth in 1949. Cooke celebrated by pulling White for six before straight driving both White and Kerrigan for six. A straight drive by Carlson for four against Kerrigan saw the stand reach 300.

Teatime Update

Glamorgan had reached 177-4 at lunch with Chris Cooke and Kiran Carlson looking to further consolidate. Cooke began by cutting Jack White through the gully before cover-driving the seamer in his next over. Carlson then scythed Ben Sanderson through backward point for four before clipping him to fine-leg and third man as the 200 came up with the Welsh county also securing their first batting point. The boundaries kept flowing from his bat as next over he steered White through point before unleashing a fierce straight drive as Glamorgan took the lead.

Carlson then edged Simon Kerrigan through the slips for four but light drizzle started to fall and after a flurry of singles, the rain intensified and forced the players briefly off the field with Glamorgan on 235-4, and the loss of two overs, but only two further balls were bowled before the rains returned and another short break in play with another four overs being lost.

Rob Keogh joined the attack and was nurdled for a single by Carlson as he reached his fifty from 81 balls before bringing up the century stand by cover-driving the off-spinner. Cooke then completed his half-century from 87 balls by square-driving Kerrigan for three. The pair continued to scamper some deftly placed singles against the two spinners as Glamorgan went to tea on the verge of another batting point.

Morning Report

The inclement weather has reduced this game to a three-day contest following the further loss yesterday of a further 42 overs on top of 51 overs on Sunday. Glamorgan were 52-2 when a torrential downpour ended play yesterday shortly after tea, but the meteorological conditions were much better this morning with only high cloud and plenty of blue sky as Marnus Labuschagne and Billy Root resumed their third wicket partnership and against a Northants attack without Gareth Berg following his ankle injury.

Jack White and Ben Sanderson continued the bowling with the former being on-driven by Labuschagne before he was also cover-driven by Root. The batter repeated the stroke when Luke Procter re-joined the attack at the River End before Labuschagne followed suit from successive balls against White to bring up the fifty stand. Root celebrated by clipping Procter to the ropes at square-leg with Labuschagne then straight-driving the same bowler in his next over before unfurling an exquisite clip to the mid-wicket ropes against Procter.

Root then square-cut Sanderson for four before Labuschagne completed his fifty from 76 balls by square-cutting the seamer for four. Root then pulled Sanderson for four before Labuschagne straight drove Procter to bring up the century stand. He then punched Procter through extra-cover before producing a coruscating straight drive against Kerrigan followed by a rasping pull to midwicket against Procter.

But just when Labuschagne seemed destined to complete a hundred he was bowled for 77 as he shouldered arms to a ball from Procter which clipped the top of off stump. Two balls later 154-3 then became 155-4 as Root under-edged the bowler onto his stumps. Kiran Carlson was joined by Chris Cooke who duly reached his 5,000th first-class run for Glamorgan by on-driving Kerrigan.

A rearguard action by Harry Gouldstone and Rob Keogh saw Northamptonshire to the safety of a draw in their LV=Insurance County Championship match against Glamorgan at Sophia Gardens.

Close of Play Report

Harry Gouldstone had batted throughout the afternoon to see his side to 159-4 at tea, with 37 overs and four wicket remaining as Andrew Salter and Michael Neser resumed the bowling duties. Both beat the bat as the Northants batsmen looked to play out time. Simon Kerrigan also remained resolute and flicked Neser to fine-leg for four before David Lloyd entered the attack with a gaggle of leg-side catchers and was pulled to the mid-wicket ropes by Gouldstone who repeated the shot next over to complete an invaluable half-century from 124 balls.

Marnus Labuschagne’s leg-spin was re-introduced as the new ball became closer and the Australian was driven to extra-cover and mid-wicket by Kerrigan, with Gouldstone also appearing to survive a sharp chance behind the stumps as he edged Salter. The new ball was duly taken after 80 overs with the visitors on 224-4 as Neser and Hogan made one final salvo.

With his sixth delivery Hogan found the edge of Kerrigan’s bat and Chris Cooke completed a tumbling catch in front of first slip as Rob Keogh returned to the crease. Gouldstone then survived a loud shout for l.b.w. against Neser before Keogh off-drove Hogan for four. Timm van der Gugten returned to the fray with nine overs remaining and Northants still 14 runs in arrears. Each beat the outside edge before Keogh clipped Neser to mid-wicket, followed by a swquare-drive against van der Gugten as the arrears were wiped off. Hogan then returned for one final over before the players fist-bumped as the game ended in a draw.

Afternoon update

Harry Gouldstone joined Rob Keogh after lunch following the run out of Zaib to the final ball of the morning session, with Marnus Labuschagne and Andrew Salter resumed the bowling. The latter was swept for four by Keogh before Gouldstone late-cut and off-drove the off-spinner for fours. This prompted the return of Michael Neser who was straight driven for four by Keogh whilst Labuschagne continued at the River End and was driven square by Gouldstone.

Salter duly returned at the River End before Dan Douthwaite had a trundle at the Cathedral Road End but Keogh remained defiant as he completed his patient fifty from 112 balls before retiring not out in order to attend an online family funeral as Simon Kerrigan made his way to the middle with his side on 140-4. Gouldstone continued to offer stout resistance as Timm van der Gugten returned to the fray shortly before tea in tandem with Michael Hogan. Labuschagne also had a second spell

Lunchtime Report

In 2019 Glamorgan’s batsmen made 433 in 96 overs on a run-laden opening day of their match against Northants at Sophia Gardens. Yesterday, they feasted on the East Midlands attack again, adding 410 in 104.5 overs with Kiran Carlson and Chris Cooke adding an unbeaten 307 runs for the fifth wicket – a new Club record – as the home side amassed a first innings lead of 247 runs.

Cooke duly declared on the overnight total of 462-4 with the visitors having the task of occupying the crease for the rest of the day in order to save the game. Proceedings began with Michael Neser receiving his Glamorgan cap – on his final Championship appearance of the summer – as the players were warming up, before at the start of play, the two teams and match officials lined up on the boundary edge to observe a minutes silence as a mark of respect to Luke Procter who had returned to his home overnight as a result of a family bereavement.

Ricardo Vasconcelos was then caught down the leg-side by Chris Cooke to the second ball of the innings from Neser before Emilio Gay thick-edged the newly capped bowler to third man. Charlie Thurston also cover-drove Michael Hogan for a pair of boundaries, before Gay clipped the veteran to square-leg followed by another outside edge to the vacant third man. Thurston also edged Neser through the gully for four before Gay on-drove Hogan for four.

But with the total on 39, Gay became another victim of the Cooke-Neser combo as the opener was also snaffled by the gloveman attempting to leg-glance the Australian. Having been joined by Rob Keogh, Thurston then edged Timm van der Gugten just in front of Joe Cooke at third slip before becoming the third man to edge Neser into Chris Cooke’s gloves – this time as he outside-edged a drive against the seamer with the wicket-keeper completing the regulation catch in front of the slips.

Saif Zaib made his way to the middle with his team on 52-3 and, after being rapped on the gloves by van der Gugten, he clipped the Dutchman to square-leg for three before on-driving Hogan for four. Andrew Salter and Marnus Labuschagne then joined the attack after 19 overs with Keogh square-driving the latter for four and prompting a change of ends for the two twirlers, plus the appearance of Billy Root’s off-spin. To the final ball of the session, Keogh drove Salter into the covers and set off for a single but Labuschagne picked up the ball and with Chris Cooke's assistance ran out Zaib.