Bragg's 91 not out helps Glamorgan to a draw at Cardiff

Daryl Mitchell will be a weary soul when he returns home after this game having been on the field for the entire duration of the contest, but he may also return with a broad smile on his face if, as a result of his outstanding efforts with the bat, his side secure another victory to consolidate their position at the top of the Division Two table. In all, the visiting captain batted for almost twelve hours and faced 566 deliveries in amassing 260 runs as, for the second time in his career, he scored a century in each innings of a match allowing Worcestershire to set Glamorgan a target of 382 runs in a minimum of 101 overs.


The visitors also claimed an important early wicket last night in the five overs before the close of play with Gareth Andrew yorking Jacques Rudolph, and despite a band of frequent and heavy showers moving across the Stadium from early morning, the rain eased around 10am allowing a prompt start to be made. Without any addition to their overnight score of 14/1, Andrew struck with his fourth delivery of the morning as he had night-watchman Dean Cosker caught behind by Ben Cox.


Will Bragg then joined Gareth Rees in the blustery conditions, and after some watchful reconnaissance, the former on-drove Andrew for four. After a miserly spell at the River End, Charlie Morris was replaced by Jack Shantry and the left-armer struck with his first delivery as Rees departed leg before to a full length delivery. 26/3 saw Murray Goodwin arrive at the crease before Bragg guided a delivery from Andrew through the slips for four.


Goodwin began with a brace of firm pushes to mid-off and mid-on, but in Shantry's fourth over, the senior statesman of the county circuit was bowled by the left-armer as he shaped to play a leg glance. Stewart Walters then joined Bragg as Glamorgan reached the 50-mark with Walters steering Morris for four, before Saeed Ajmal joined the attack and had his second delivery crisply despatched by Walters through the covers for four.


Shantry then switched to the Cathedral Road End as Ajmal wheeled away at the River End with a cluster of five close catchers. Walters remained unruffled by the gaggle of fielders and despatched the spinner for a trio of fours through the offside in the final over before lunch to bring up the fifty stand.

Will Bragg and Stewart Walters had taken the score to 90/4 at lunch and when play resumed, still with a stiff breeze blowing across the square, Gareth Andrew returned at the Cathedral Road End whilst Saeed Ajmal continued to operate at the River End. Their resistance though only lasted for a further twelve deliveries as Ajmal, bowling around the wicket, had Walters caught at leg slip without any addition to the lunchtime total.


Jim Allenby duly joined Bragg who then drove Ajmal for four, before crisply drilling Andrew through mid-off for a further boundary. Allenby also unleashed a rapier-like cover drive as he despatched Andrew to the ropes in front of the Pavilion, but on two occasions, the Glamorgan all-rounder nearly edged Ajmal to bat-pad and subsequently second slip. Charlie Morris then replaced Andrew, and in his second over he clean bowled Allenby with the total on 119.


Mark Wallace joined the resolute Bragg who continued to play watchfully against the wily Ajmal, twice leaving deliveries from the Pakistani spinner alone as the ball, much to the angst of the close fielders, span passed the stumps. Wallace struck his first boundary as he edged a pull against Morris over the wicket-keeper's head before driving Ajmal into the covers for two, and it seemed a bizarre coincidence that strains of the Welsh National anthem, being played for an international hockey match on the adjoining Astroturf pitch alongside the Stadium, wafted across the outfield shortly before Ajmal had a breather at the River End as left-armers Ross Whiteley and Jack Shantry.


Bragg completed his patient fifty from 185 balls by on-driving Whiteley shortly before tea, besides cutting Shantry to backward point for four, as together with his captain, the southpaw continued the resistance.

There were a minimum of 33 overs remaining as Will Bragg and Mark Wallace resumed after tea with Glamorgan on 149/6 and facing the left-arm seam of Jack Shantry and the wiles of off-spinner Saeed Ajmal. Wallace on-drove Shantry for three before off-driving Ajmal for three to end a series of dot balls as the seventh wicket pair continued their crease occupation.


Wallace though was almost caught at slip against Ajmal after Bragg had cut Alexei Kervezee for four when the Dutchman's occasional spin had a brief airing prior to Worcestershire taking the new ball with Glamorgan on 169/6 and 21 overs remaining in the contest. Gareth Andrew and Charlie Morris duly returned to the fray with Wallace bringing up the fifty-stand by spearing a delivery from Andrew over the head of gully.


Bragg celebrated by punching Andrew off the back foot through extra cover for four with Worcestershire just managing to get in an extra over before 5pm and the start of the final hour. Wallace then clipped Morris to the ropes at mid-wicket for four and three before being struck on the glove by a sharply rising delivery from Andrew which led to the doughty Glamorgan captain receiving treatment on his damaged digit before continuing his rearguard action.


Ajmal then returned to the attack and had a loud appeal for a catch at bat-pad against Bragg turned down before the southpaw brought up the 200 by guiding Andrew to the vacant boundary at third man and long-leg. He then drilled Shantry straight for four, but a heavy shower broke over the Stadium sending everyone scurrying to the Pavilion with Glamorgan on 216/6 with 11.1 overs remaining.


The heavy squall soon cleared, causing the loss of three overs, but it looked like there might be a further twist and turn as in Ajmal's first over after the resumption, Wallace was trapped leg before and the Pakistani had another l.b.w. appeal turned down next over against Bragg besides a sharp catch at bat-pad nearly being snaffled. Graham Wagg began by cover driving Ajmal followed by some ramrod-straight defensive shots against the Pakistani and Morris as the match ended in a draw with Glamorgan on 228/7 with Bragg nine runs short of making his second Championship hundred, but having played without doubt his finest and most important innings for the Club.