It’s a case of second against third as Glamorgan continue their push for promotion by heading to Lord’s for their LV=Insurance County Championship match against Middlesex – a team who are seven points behind the Welsh county in third place in the table, with the contest scheduled to get under way at 1030 on Monday, 12 September. (writes Andrew Hignell)
Glamorgan’s draw against Worcestershire means that the Welsh county have risen into second place in the table, seven points ahead of Middlesex who meet Leicestershire and Worcestershire in their final games of the summer. Glamorgan will play against Derbyshire and Sussex in their closing matches so this game at Lord’s could be a pivotal contest in deciding who is promoted, probably with leaders Nottinghamshire, into Division One.
The Welsh county’s most recent visit to Lord’s for a Championship match in April 2018 saw just 58 overs being completed in a weather-ravaged contest. Nevertheless, Michael Hogan was able to record the 21st five-wicket haul of his career as the Australian made the most of the dank conditions, besides being aided by some smart fielding close to the wicket, notably Nick Selman who held a trio of good catches at second slip. Timm van der Gugten also claimed three wickets for four runs in the space of seven balls as Glamorgan collected maximum bowling points. Conditions continued to favour the seamers when Glamorgan batted shortly after lunch, on the third day with Tim Murtagh claiming all four wickets during a miserly spell at the Nursery End. Bad light and drizzle then prompted an early finish before torrential rain overnight saw the game called off before lunch on the final day.
Glamorgan had been victorious on their previous visits to Lord’s in 2010 and 2011. The game in 2011 saw an eight-wicket haul by James Harris, plus a century from Ben Wright and 87 by Will Bragg helping to lay the foundations for a nine-wicket victory. Thanks to probing spells of seam bowling by David Harrison and Huw Waters, Glamorgan had also been victorious at Lord’s in 2010 as they defeated Middlesex by 78 runs. Before these victories in 2010 and 2011, Glamorgan’s previous two Championship victories at Lord’s had been back in the 1950s, with the Welsh county - then led by Wilf Wooller - winning by 22 runs in 1954 and by 131 runs in 1952.