Glamorgan lose by 249 runs at Worcester as Ajmal takes 7/34

Worcestershire's declaration last night meant that Glamorgan were set a target of 355 in a minimum of 97 overs, and after the maiden last night, Andrew Salter and Tom Lancefield were looking to establish a firm platform this morning when play again resumed under glorious clear skies, and with the delightful sound of the Cathedral bells ringing out as the local campanologists completed their morning duties.


Their efforts though were soon drowned out by applause from the home supporters as Lancefield departed to the tenth ball of the morning as he edged Charlie Morris to first slip, and his departure saw Jacques Rudolph make his way, without any sign of discomfort, to the middle with his side on 1/1.


Morris as well as Jack Shantry beat the edge of the bat several times in a probing new ball spell, with the sequence of dot balls being ended by a deft flick of his hips to fine-leg by Rudolph against Morris. The young seamer though gained reward for his perseverance and persistence as after over at hour at the crease, Salter sparred at a rising ball from Morris with Shantry completing the catch as the ball lobbed towards him in the gully. Then in his next over, Morris claimed the prized wicket of Rudolph as Richard Oliver at short mid-wicket swooped to take a good low catch.


With Glamorgan reeling on 17/3 Saeed Ajmal entered the attack at the Diglis End whilst Joe Leach replaced Morris at the New Road End. Ben Wright swept Ajmal for four, but next over he perished repeating the stroke as Moeen held the head-high catch at backward square-leg as the spinner took his 50^th wicket of the summer.


30/4 became 32/5 as Chris Cooke drove Ajmal into the hands of short extra-cover before Jim Allenby got off the mark by clipping Moeen Ali through the hands of the fielder at mid-wicket

It had definitely been Worcestershire's morning with the visitor's nose-diving to 46/5 at lunch and there was plenty for Will Bragg and Jim Allenby to do after the interval with 67 overs remaining in the contest. The latter struck Saeed Ajmal's first ball of the session through backward point for four, before twice driving Joe Leach through mid-off for further boundaries. Allenby then drove Ajmal off the back foot through the covers before late cutting him.


Bragg greeted the return of Moeen Ali by sweeping him for six - a stroke that also brought up the 50 stand. But next over Allenby top-edged a sweep against Ajmal and Tom Fell completed a good catch running back from square-leg as Glamorgan slipped to 84/6.


Mark Wallace duly joined Bragg and began with a brace of singles before Bragg swept Moeen for four. Burt after bring up the hundred, Bragg drove at Ajmal and was caught by wicket-keeper Ben Cox. Two balls later 100/7 became 100/8 as Ruaidhri Smith was bowled played forward to the Pakistani who duly claimed his tenth wicket. Next over he added his eleventh scalp as Wallace was leg before attempting to sweep before two balls later making it a dozen as he bowled Michael Hogan as Glamorgan were dismissed for 105 to give Worcestershire victory shortly before 3pm by 249 runs and a place at the top of the Division Two table.