Fifties by Aneurin Donald and Chris Cooke have seen Glamorgan to 225/6 at the close of a rain-affected second day of their match against Durham at Swansea in the Specsavers County Championship, trailing the visitors by 117 runs
Close of Play Report
Having seen Glamorgan to 112/4 at tea, David Lloyd began the evening session by upper-cutting Paul Coughlin to third man but two balls later he edged the seamer into the hands of first slip and departed for 16. Chris Cooke began by driving Coughlin for a pair of fours before Donald twice pulled the seamer for four. The young tyro also swept the spin of George Harding for four en route to a 74-ball fifty, but for the second successive game, Donald departed to a one-handed catch high above the fielder’s head as Keaton Jennings, at short mid-wicket, spectacularly plucked a pull out of the air.
161/6 saw Andrew Salter join Cooke who square-cut Harding for four, followed by a deft flick to fine-leg for four against Weighell. Cooke followed this with savage square-cuts against Weighell, Collingwood and Harding as he completed his fifty from 83 balls. He celebrated by cover-driving Harding, whilst Salter swept and pulled Pringle to the ropes shortly before the close, although in the final over, Cooke edged Harding through the slips as Collingwood failed to complete his fourth catch of the day.
Afternoon update
After the blank morning session, play began at 2.30 with 59 overs remaining in the day’s quota. Nick Selman and Jacques Rudolph opened the batting and each secured fours off the outside edge through the slips in the opening over from Chris Rushworth. Rudolph also upper cut Rushworth for six over backward point followed by a pair of cover drives for four to the next two deliveries, but to the last ball of the over, Selman clipped the ball high to point where Cameron Steel held the catch high above his head.
Rudolph added another four to his tally as he drove James Weighell off the front foot through the covers, but in Rushworth’s next over he repeated the stroke but ended up edging to first slip as Colin Ingram joined Will Bragg with Glamorgan on 39/2. Ingram began with an edged four whilst Bragg opened his account by clipping Paul Coughlin to fine-leg before cover-driving the bowler for four to bring up the 50.
Ingram straight-drove Rushworth for four before Bragg repeated the stroke two overs later. Ingram then pulled Weighell for four when he switched to the Mumbles Road End, but next over, after just 48 minutes at the crease – compared to his marathon 590 earlier in the week – he edged Coughlin to first slip.
76/3 saw Aneurin Donald join Bragg and he began with a drive through point for four against both Weighell and Collingwood. But with the total on 92, Bragg departed as he miscued a pull agaianst Weighell and was caught at mid-on. David Lloyd began by edging through the slips and being dropped at third slip, whilst Donald pulled Weighell for six.
Morning Report
The therapeutic powers of sea air are well-known and, so far, the festival of county cricket in West Wales has seen two senior citizens of the first-class game prosper with the bat at this seaside location. In the one-day game it was Darren Stevens, the 41 year-old Kent veteran, who blitzed 147 from just 67 balls, whilst yesterday Paul Collingwood celebrated his 41st birthday with a cultured century which allowed Durham to collect three batting points before Michael Hogan, who himself celebrates his 36th birthday next week, abruptly ended their innings by taking the last three wickets in the space of four balls.
Whereas yesterday saw clear blue skies, baking sunshine and sweltering temperatures, the northerly passage of early morning thunderstorms and showers prevented any play this morning with an early lunch being taken at 12.30pm.