Glamorgan recorded their first victory for 32 years in the County Championship at Old Trafford yesterday afternoon to significantly enhance their hopes of promotion from Division Two (writes Andrew Hignell).
Their last success at Old Trafford had come on 19 July 1993 in an extraordinary and rain-affected contest after the two captains had agreed on a run-chase on the final afternoon. The Manchester rain had washed out the first day’s play before Lancashire, led by Neil Fairbrother, made 310-9 on the second day, before Glamorgan, under the captaincy of Hugh Morris, responded with 303-5 with Steve James making an unbeaten 138.
After further showers, a bizarre 12-over period saw Lancashire race to 235-1 from some gentle bowling by Matthew Maynard and Tony Cottey, with Glen Chapple making a century from just 27 balls with 10 fours and 9 sixes. Maynard finished with figures of 6-0-110-1 and Cottey 6-0-121-0. Normal service then resumed as Glamorgan mounted a successful run-chase with 95 from Adrian Dale plus 55 by Maynard steering the Welsh county to a seven-wicket victory.
Overall, their win yesterday afternoon was Glamorgan’s eighth victory at Old Trafford with the other successes coming in 1946, 1951, 1957, 1965, 1968, 1989 and 1993. In terms of the so-called traditional Test match grounds, Trent Bridge has been Glamorgan’s happiest hunting ground with the Welsh county winning 12 out of 49 matches at Nottingham. As far as the others are concerned, they have been victorious in 8 of 56 matches at The Oval, 7 from 56 contests at Edgbaston, 4 of their 48 games at Lord’s and just once in 17 contests at Headingley.
Mason Crane’s career-best return of 6/19 in Lancashire’s first innings were the best bowling figures for the Glamorgan against Lancashire since Waqar Younis claimed 7/25 at Liverpool in 1997, and the best by a spinner for the Welsh county against the Red Roses since Ravi Shastri claimed 7/49 at Swansea in 1988.
They were also the best-ever figures recorded by a leg-spinner for the Welsh county beating Cyril Smart’s return of 5/39 against Somerset.at Weston-super-Mare in 1939.