As Glamorgan look to put their 10-wicket defeat to Kent behind them ahead of Sunday\'s visit of Worcestershire, here are four things we learned from the match.
Lower middle order firepower
David Lloyd and Graham Wagg’s record stand of 215 – which provided a glimmer of hope for Glamorgan on Day Three – showed the Welsh county possess serious firepower at Numbers 6, 7 and 8. Craig Meschede also showed his batting prowess with a breezy 63 in the first innings to guide Glamorgan to a decent total. If they can ally that to big runs at the top of the order, Glamorgan can post formidable totals in four-day cricket this season.
Bragg in form
Bragg followed his career-best 129 against Derbyshire with another half-century, meaning the Gwent man has now passed fifty three times in three matches. He appears more comfortable batting at Number 3 rather than opening and has cemented his place in the team. However, Bragg would have been disappointed to drag onto his stumps on 51 in the second innings and will want to make more hundreds by the end of the season.
Batting first benefits?
Three games, three successful coin tosses for Jacques Rudolph. On each occasion the South African has elected to bat first, yet Glamorgan remain winless in the County Championship. Is batting first benefitting Glamorgan or are the green-tinged early season pitches yielding more assistance for the bowlers early doors? With the traditional coin toss scrapped, Rudolph may have no choice but to bat first if Worcestershire’s Daryl Mitchell fancies a bowl on Sunday morning.
Vital opening partnerships
Kent welcomed New Zealand Test opener Tom Latham to their ranks for the game versus Glamorgan and he showed his credentials as a patient, potent opening bat. Together with the talented Daniel Bell-Drummond, he put on 125 and 190 for Kent’s first wicket. Their partnerships put Glamorgan on the back foot so early wickets will be crucial for the Welsh County in the next game against Worcestershire.
Glamorgan's Specsavers County Championship match versus Worcestershire starts at 11am on Sunday.