Evening Update

Play resumed at 16.45pm with a further eighteen overs being lost. Sanderson struck with his first delivery of the session as Cooke edged into the hands of Emilio Gay at second slip. Dan Douthwaite made his way to the middle with the score on 96-5 before Ingram brought up the 100 with a booming cover-drive against Tremain followed by an elegant off-drive for three against Sanderson.

Douthwaite square-drove Tremain for four before Ingram inside-edged Sanderson for four. Douthwaite also off-drove Sanderson for four besides clipping Procter through mid-wicket for four, prior to Ingram reaching his fifty from 78 balls. Douthwaite then steered Raphael Weatherall for four through backward point before firmly on-driving the England Under19 international.

Douthwaite then completed his fifty from 62 balls by clipping Weatherall to mid-wicket. But he was trapped l.b.w. next ball as James Harris made his way to the middle. But his stay at the crease was brief as 170-6 became 171-6 as he departed leg before to Procter. Ingram continued to find the ropes as he twice steered Sanderson to third man for four before Mason Crane clipped him to the ropes at square-leg. However, soon after reaching the 200-mark, the light deteriorated and play ended with three overs remaining.

Afternoon update

Play began at 13.10pm, with Glamorgan making one change from the side which drew with Derbyshire at Cardiff with on-loan seamer Brad Wheal replacing the injured Jamie McIlroy. s – Zain ul Hassan and Billy Root opened the batting as Chris Tremain and Ben Sanderson shared the new ball.Tremain duly made an early breakthrough as with his second delivery he found the edge of ul Hassan’s bat with Lewis McManus completing the catch behind the stumps.

3-1 saw the arrival of Sam Northeast and he started by on-driving Sanderson for four but the bowler gained revenge as in his next over he trapped Root leg before as Glamorgan slipped to 13-2. Kiran Carlson unfurled a couple of booming off-drives but the score then became 22-3 as Northeast edged Sanderson to third slip where Ricardo Vasconcelos held a head-high catch.

Raphael Weatherall then replaced Sanderson at the Pavilion End and with his fourth delivery he bowled Carlson with a delivery which pitched middle and hit the off stump. Colin Ingram clipped the youngster to fine-leg before punching him off the back foot for four and then harpooning the youngster for six over mid-wicket. Chris Cooke then cover-drove Luke Procter for four before Ingram square-drove Sanderson when he switched ends, but the drizzle which had been falling then intensified and the players left the field after 23 overs.

It was only a short break, with three overs being lost before Ingram drilled Procter through the covers for four. Cooke also drove Sanderson for four through extra-cover before Ingram outside-edged Sanderson through the slips. But the rains then returned and the players took an early tea after 28 overs.

Morning update

The first two rounds of the Vitality County Championship have seen the use of Kookaburra balls with just one victory (Essex v Notts at Trent Bridge) in eighteen games, plus some high-scoring draws. Views about the Kookaburra’s are polarised with Alec Stewart, Surrey’s Dorector of Cricket saying their implementation is “the worst decision ever.” Grant Bradburn, Glamorgan’s Head Coach, saw merit in the trial, believing instead that it “will help bowlers become better.” It's now back to the traditional Dukes but morning rain in Northampton has delayed the start of the contest, and prolonged the discussions amongst the hardy supporters over the merits of the Kookaburra’s and Dukes.

After inspections at 1000am and 1100am, the two umpires - Graham Lloyd and Sue Redfern - decided that there would be no play before lunch and that an early lunch would be taken at 12.30pm. Play will start at 13.10pm with 80 overs in the daily quota.

Evening Report

Northamptonshire were 133-1 at tea, trailing by 138 runs thanks to a century stand by Vasconcelos and Procter. Brad Wheal and Mason Crane resumed the bowling duties, with Wheal being pulled for four by Procter. Crane was also harpooned for successive fours by Vasconcelos before Procter completed his fifty from 121 balls.

Vasconcelos also edged Crane for four between the wicket-keeper and slip fielder before heaving the leg-spinner to wide long-on for four. Procter then unfurled a laconic square-cut against Wheal before Vasconcelos repeated the shot later in the over before completing a 153-ball century by pulling the next delivery to the ropes at mid-wicket.

Vasconcelos then square-cut Harris for four from successive balls as the 200 came up in the 55th over. But eleven runs later their stand ended as Procter pulled Crane into the hands of Billy Root at square-leg. Karun Nair then opened his account by sweeping the spinner for four before lofting him over mid-off.

Zain ul Hassan returned to the attack and was square-driven for four by Nair before Vasconcelos outside-edged successive balls from Hamza for four. ul Hassan then had a good shout for l.b.w. against Vasconcelos before the opener completed his 150 from 223 balls. Nair also reached his 50 from 71 balls

Glamorgan took the new ball after 80 overs with Harris and Wheal bowling in tandem but the Northants batters continued their serene progress and further built their lead

Afternoon Report

Northants resumed on 32-1 after lunch with the visitors pressing for further wickets. Luke Procter began with a clipped four to square-leg against Wheal as Mir Hamza continued to probe away at the Pavilion End. Harris then returned for a second spell and was square-driven for four by Ricardo Vasconcelos, followed by a clip for four to square-leg plus a coruscating on-drive.

Dan Douthwaite then replaced Wheal and was clipped to fine-leg for four by Vasconcelos who then upper-cut him for four, followed by a drive through mid-off for three. Procter then on-drove the all-rounder through mid-wicket before Vasconcelos drilled Zain ul Hassan through extra-cover for four en route to a 95-ball fifty. He celebrated by upper-cutting Douthwaite for four over the head of the slip cordon.

Hamza returned for a second spell but Vasconcdelos and Procter remained resolute as they slowly chiselled away at the deficit.

Morning update

Having slumped to 27-4 on a well-grassed surface and facing bowlers armed with a Dukes ball, Glamorgan had recovered to 203-7 by the end of a weather-affected opening day with the Welsh county’s fightback being led by Colin Ingram and Dan Douthwaite who both posted combative half-centuries in the bowler-friendly conditions. Although Douthwaite had departed by the time rain ended play during the 57th over, Ingram was still at the crease and with the doughty Mason Crane as his partner, the South African had an eye on completing his second century of the Championship season.

Resuming on 69*, Ingram pulled Ben Sanderson for four before Mason Crane nurdled him to the ropes through backward point. He then swatted Chris Tremain for a massive six over mid-wicket to beat his previous best first-class score for Hampshire. Ingram also found the ropes as he off-drove Sanderson, but next ball, Ingram edged into the slips where Karun Nair completed a fine one-handed as he pirouetted to his right.

236-8 then became 236-9 as Brad Wheal, having joined his Hampshire colleague, edged Sanderson into McManus’ gloves. Having been joined by Mir Hamza, Crane pulled Raphael Weatherall to the boards at mid-wicket before dabbing the youngster through the gully for four. He then completed his maiden fifty by on-driving Sanderson for four to also see Glamorgan to their first batting point.

Hamza then drilled Weatherall through the covers for four before on-driving Luke Procter. Crane then hoiked Procter for four through mid-wicket but next over he edged the home captain into the hands of Nair at slip as Glamorgan ended on 271. Northants had forty minutes batting before lunch with Ricardo Vasconcelos and Emilio Gay opening the batting against Hamza and James Harris. Gay clipped Harris through mid-wicket and mid-on for a pair of firmly struck fours but in the sixth over he departed l.b.w.to Harris.

Evening Report

Glamorgan had reached 22-0 at tea with Billy Root starting the final session with a rasping square-cut for four against Chris Tremain. After a spell from the Australian and Ben Sanderson, the East Midlands side switched to Raphael Weatherall and the spin of Saif Zaib. The change did the trick as with the total on 46, ul Hassan edged Weatherall into the gloves of the wicket-keeper.

Sam Northeast joined Root and opened his account by steering Weatherall through the gully for four. Root then cover-drove the youngster for four before Northeast repeated the stroke in his next over. Sanderson then returned but it was Zaib who took the next wicket as he bowled Root for 41. 72-2 then became 75-3 as Northeast edged Sanderson to Emilio Gay at second slip.

It might even have been 75-4 as next ball Ingram edged to Nair at first slip but the Indian failed to complete a juggling catch. Ingram celebrated his survival by flicking Sanderson to fine-leg for four before, with the helping of Carlson, seeing Glamorgan through to the close.

Afternoon Report

Northants began the afternoon session on 442-5 and a lead of 171 with Saif Zaib completing his fifty from 68 balls by square-cutting Crane. He also swept Carlson to the ropes before Nair did the same to Crane. Zaib also cover-drove the leg-spinner before Nair reverse-swept Carlson for four. Zaib brought up the 500 by cover-driving Carlson before Nair swept Crane to the boards at deep square-leg as he completed his 150 from 220 balls.

Zaib greeted the return of Dan Douthwaite by cover-driving him for four before Nair swept Crane for six followed by an upper-cut against Douthwaite for four, plus a delightful late-cut for four to bring up the 200-run stand. Zaib, who was dropped on 99 in the gully, then flicked Douthwaite to fine-leg to complete his hundred from 135 balls.

But next over he harpooned Crane high into the hands of Douthwaite at deep mid-wicket and departed with the total on 565. Having been joined by Lewis McManus, Nair pulled Douthwaite for six before his partner also swept the leg-spinner for a maximum. Nair then swept Crane for four before seeing his team to 600 by drilling Wheal through the covers. The Indian then reached his 200 from 253 balls whereupon Northants declared giving Glamorgan 25 minutes batting before tea.

Facing a deficit of 334 runs, Zain ul Hassan and Billy Root faced Ben Sanderson and Chris Tremain. Both batters cover-drove Sanderson in his opening two overs.

Morning update

From a bowler’s paradise to a batter’s heaven – events at Northampton yesterday showed how the well-grassed pitch which had favoured the home attack on the first morning had apparently mellowed into a more docile surface yesterday for their batters, with the application of the heavy roller and overhead conditions each assisting their cause. The upshot was that Northamptonshire ended the second day with a lead of 43 runs and two batters in Ricardo Vasconcelos and Karun Nair who seemingly were well set to further extend the advantage of their team.

But it was honours to the visitors during an engrossing first hour with Glamorgan having a new ball which was just four overs old. Mir Hamza and Brad Wheal resumed the bowling duties, with Hamza beating the outside edge of Vasconcelos’ bat on several occasions. He was more fortunate against Wheal as he pulled and leg-glanced the loanee for pair of fours. Nair caressed Wheal through the covers for four but with the total on 336, Hamza’s probing efforts were rewarded as Vasconcelos edged into Cook’s gloves and departed for 182.

George Bartlett joined Nair who survived some loud appeals for l.b.w. and caught behind, but Wheal then removed Bartlett with the total on 349 as the former Somerset batter edged to Northeast at second slip. Zain ul Hassan and James Harris then bowled in tandem with the latter striking with his second delivery as James Sales departed l.b.w. with the total on 353-4.

Saif Zaib began by outside-edging ul Hassan for four before Nair dabbed Harris through the gully. Zaib also lofted ul Hassan to mid-wicket for four before Nair square-cut ul Hassan as Northants raced towards another batting point. The 400 was duly reached as Nair punched Kiran Carlson through extra-cover for four with the Indian then flat-batting Harris through the covers en route to completing a 161-ball hundred.

Afternoon Update

Rain continued to fall after the lunch interval and when the umpires made an inspection at 2.00pm there was still drizzle in the air and a lot of water on the protective sheets which were strewn across the square. A further inspection took place at 4.00pm but with conditions still damp, play was called off and the game ended in a draw.

Morning update

The tasks for both teams today at Northampton seemed to be crystal clear last night. The home side needed to claim seven wickets in order to record their first Championship victory of the season, whilst Glamorgan, who were 230 runs in arrears, had to bat through the 96 overs which are scheduled today to avoid defeat.

However, the weather has intervened following overnight rain and further precipitation this morning, with the umpires deciding at 10.00am, with steady drizzle still falling, that the start of play would be delayed. With the rain still falling at 11.30am, the umpires decided that there would be no play before lunch with an early lunch being taken at 12.30pm.