Glamorgan were 16/1 when rain brought an early finish on the second evening of their Specsavers County Championship match against Kent at Canterbury, after the home side had secured a first innings lead of 228 runs (writes Andrew Hignell).
Close of Play Report
Kent were 409/8 at tea, with a lead of 149 runs, and when play began after the interval, Mitch Claydon and Adam Riley looked to further extend the lead as Michael Hogan and Craig Meschede sought to polish off the Kent tail. But Claydon used the long handle to club a couple of further boundaries when Meschede dropped short, before Riley cover drove the all-rounder for successive fours. Claydon then swatted Wagg for four before completing his fifty from 47 balls. He celebrated by heaving Andrew Salter to mid-wicket for another rustic boundary but his merry spree ended next over as he holed out to David Lloyd as he attempted to drive Wagg straight for six.
With Hugh Bernard as his partner, Riley also struck some lusty blows, twice hoisting Salter to deep square-leg for four. Bernard on-drove Salter for four but next over the youngster was caught behind as Podmore gained his second wicket and ended the Kent innings on 488.
Jacques Rudolph and James Kettleborough began Glamorgan’s second innings with eleven overs in the day’s quota remaining, but in the fourth over the Glamorgan captain was caught behind as he drove at Darren Stevens. With Will Bragg as his new partner, Kettleborough clipped Claydon to fine-leg for four, before Bragg cover drove Stevens. But the light drizzle which had been falling for several overs became heavier and the players left the field in the seventh over.
Afternoon update
The floodlights were still on as Kent resumed after lunch on 236/2, with Sam Northeast glancing Craig Meschede for four to long-leg. But in the third over of the session, Michael Hogan bowled Joe Denly with a delivery that scuttled through and re-arranged his stumps. Sean Dickson joined Northeast as light drizzle started to fall, but the Kent captain was unperturbed as he clipped Hogan to the mid-wicket ropes.
With the total on 254 Hogan removed Dickson who tamely edged to third slip where, after some juggling, James Kettleborough safely held onto the ball. An edged four through the slips by Northeast against Meschede brought the scores level but two deliveries later he played on. Darren Stevens began by steering Hogan through point before lofting Meschede high over square-leg for six. He then drilled the all-rounder through mid-off for four.
Adam Rouse opened his account with a pair of fours through cover and backward point when David Lloyd returned to the fray. Stevens also straight drove Lloyd for six before Rouse drove Wagg in the air through point for four. Stevens then pulled a long-hop from Podmore for six en route to a 58-ball fifty. But with the total on 338/6 Rouse edged Podmore to second slip where Donald completed the catch to give the on-loan seamer a maiden first-class wicket.
The new ball was then taken, before being dispatched to fine-leg by Stevens as Meschede returned at the Nackington Road End. Matt Coles announced his arrival with a cover-driven four against each bowler as Hogan came back for another spell. But with the total on 356, Stevens attempted one lusty blow too many as he miscued a pull and Andrew Salter, running in from deep square-leg – took an outstanding diving catch.
On 367, Bragg dropped a catch in the identical position as Mitch Claydon carved at Meschede. Coles celebrated their good fortune by pulling a long-hop for four before a gleeful Claydon drilled Hogan through extra-cover. Another exocet-like drive from Coles against Meschede took Kent closer to the 400-mark, before Claydon cut Salter for four, before lofting him into the pavilion stand for six.
Coles then pulled Hogan for a massive six to bring up the 400, but the bowler had the last laugh as the next delivery kept a tad low and re-arranged the stumps.
Lunchtime report
Kent enjoyed, by far, the better of the opening day of this encounter as, after dismissing the Welsh county for 260, they romped in the evening session to 124/0, and in the process whittled away the deficit to just 136 runs. A number of Glamorgan batsmen got a start, but as in other Championship games this year, none went on to accrue a sizeable score.
With Daniel Bell-Drummond unbeaten this morning on 62, and Tom Latham, the Kiwi international on 48 not out, Kent supporters were hoping that their batsmen would convert their fifties into hundreds. In contrast, the Glamorgan bowlers were looking to make inroads into the Kent batting and to prevent them from amassing a decent lead. Despite drizzle falling from breakfast time, play began on time with Latham completing his fifty from 103 balls with an edged four through the slip cordon.
In Hogan’s second over of the morning, Latham edged again, and this time the ball flew straight to Aneurin Donald at second slip as the opening stand ended on 131. Joe Denly duly joined Bell-Drummond who then edged Craig Meschede through the slips for four. Denly got off the mark in similar fashion against Hogan before Bell-Drummond unfurled a pair of imperious drives through mid-off and mid-on against the Australian.
Denly also found the ropes as he square-cut a short ball from Meschede followed by a glance to the fine-leg boundary. Bell –Drummond found the ropes again as he on-drove Meschede but this proved to be his 13th and final boundary as shortly afterwards Meschede was rewarded for his probing spell at the Pavilion End by finding the edge of the opener’s bat with Chris Cooke deftly completing the catch. Harry Podmore then replaced Hogan at the Nackington Road End and in his second over almost claimed his maiden first-class wicket as Denly edged just wide of a diving second slip.
Fours then came from successive balls as Denly pulled and cover drove Podmore , before Denly greeted the return of Graham Wagg by clipping him to fine-leg. He also did the same to David Lloyd as the 200 came up in the 49th over, before again steering Wagg through backward point. Denly completed his fifty from 62 balls as Andrew Salter had a spell shortly before lunch.