Northerns lead Glamorgan by 70 runs after dismissing the tourists for 214 on the second day of their three-day friendly at Old Hararians CC (writes Andrew Hignell).
Evening Update
Andrew Salter and Dan Douthwaite continued their steady accumulation after the tea interval with the former also on-driving Wessly Madhevere over wide long-on for six. Douthwaite then pulled Ainsley Ndlovu over deep mid-wicket for another maximum, but with the total on 197 he was bowled by the spinner for 28. Prem Sisodiya brought up the 200 but two runs later Ndlovu had an appeal upheld for l.b.w. against Salter with Timm van der Gugten making his way to the middle. The Dutchman opened his shoulders to drill Prince Masvaure for six over long-off but the left-arm seamer then ended the Glmaorgan innings by bowling Sisodiya as the tourists were dismissed for 214, giving Northerns a first innings lead of 52.
James Harris and Harry Podmore shared the new ball as Northerns looked to extend their lead, but with his second delivery Podmore bowled Tanunurwa Makoni. Their progress was also thwarted by a thuderstorm which broke, togther with lightning over the ground, causing play to finish after 6.2 overs with Northerns on 18-1.
Afternoon Update
Chris Cooke remained in positive vein after the lunch interval and struck successive fours through extra-cover and to fine-leg against William Mashinge, but with the total on 104 Wessly Madhevere's off-spin ended his innings as he departed l.b.w. for 37. Zain-ul-Hassan joined Root and pulled the spinner for six over mid-wicket, but with the total on 138 the spinner gained revenge by also trapping the all-rounder leg before.
Dan Douthwaite opened his account with a rasping four through backward point against the left-arm seam of Keith Jaure before Billy Root completed his patient 50 from 79 balls. However, with the total on 157, he became the third l.b.w. victim for Madhevere with Andrew Salter joining Dan Douthwaite and taking their side to 181-7 at the interval.
Lunchtime Update
It took the Welsh county's spinners just three balls to polish off the Northerns innings, although it might have only taken one had Ernest Masuku not been dropped at mid-wicket off the first ball of the day from Andrew Salter. Faraz Akram then on-drive Prem Sisodiya for a single before the left-arm spinner had Masuku well caught at short mid-on by Tom Bevan as Northerns ended on 266, with Akram - who has played in IT20 cricket for Zimbabwe - unbeaten on 74. However, he was quickly back in the action as the right-arm seamer opened the bowling as David Lloyd and Eddie Byrom began Glamorgan's reply.
Lloyd was quickly into his stride with a coruscating cover drive to the second ball of the innings, with Byrom doing the same to the fifth ball of the over. Lloyd then swatted Masuku to the ropes at deep backward square-leg ffollowed by an upper cut to third man further fours. But with the total on 18 in the fifth over, Lloyd was well caught at mid-off by Wessly Madhevere as he drove Akram as Bevan joined Byrom. The young batter survived an early chance at mid-wicket but, with the total on 23, Masuku had Bevan caught at short third man by Timycen Maruma. Byrom then struck successive fours against Akram before Sam Northeast departed in identical fashion to Bevan as Glamorgan slipped to 33-3 in the eighth over. Byrom was then joined by Billy Root with the pair taking the total to 46 before the former edged Trevor Gwandu to wicket-keeper Tafadzwa Tsiga.
Billy Root and Chris Cooke then steadied the ship in the hour before lunch with Cooke posting a trio of fours through the off side in William Mashine's opening over whilst Root also struck a pair of boundaries in the last over before the interval as he twice found the ropes against left-arm spinner Ainsley Ndlovu.