WORCESTERSHIRE v GLAMORGAN

Close of Play Report

Worcestershire had recovered from 110-6 to 202-6 at tea thanks to the forthright efforts of d’Oliveira and van Beek. With van der Gugten still hors de combat, Carlson continued at the Diglis End in tandem with ul Hassan with the Cathedral bells soon after ending a four-hour twelve-bell peel of Bristol Surprise Maximus, greeted by warm applause from those spectators who appreciate campanology. They were applauding soon after, this time for a century stand for the seventh wicket but next over, the Glamorgan faithful were putting their hands together as Carlson completed a fine low catch off his own bowling to end van Beek’s innings.

211-7 saw Ben Allison, on loan from Essex, make his way to the middle before d-Oliveira late-cut Kellaway to complete his fifty from 87 balls. He celebrated by harpooning Carlson to deep square-leg for four before Glamorgan took the new ball after 80 overs with Harris and McIlroy returning to the fray with the home side on 245-7.

Ben Allison brought up the 250 and the first batting point by pulling McIlroy for four. He repeated the stroke three overs later against Harris before inside-edging the seamer to fine-leg. But the bowler had the last laugh as later in the over, and with the total on 275, Allison inside-edged another delivery onto his stumps. Three runs later Joe Leach edged ul Hassan to Cooke before Pennington lofted the all-rounder into Carlson’s hands at mid-off as Worcestershire’s innings ended on 284.

There were two overs for Byrom and Harris to face which they did without alarm.

Teatime Update

Worcestershire had recovered from 33-3 to reach 72-3 at lunch, with Hose guiding van der Gugten to third but Harris struck in his second over as he removed the obdurate Roderick l.b.w. Kashif Ali announced his arrival by punching Harris off the back foot through backward point before Hose pulled and cut van der Gugten for boundaries. McIlroy then returned at the New Road End and with his fourth delivery he removed Kashif in identical fashion to his namesake Azhar before lunch as the batter chipped a slower ball to Byrom at mid-wicket.

103-5 saw Brett d’Oliveira make his way to the middle but seven runs later McIlroy struck again as Hose under-edged an expansive swish at the left-armer and Colin Ingram at first slip completed a regulation catch. ul Hassan returned at the Diglis End and was square-cut by d’Oliveira before Logan van Beek pulled him for four. d’Oliveira also square-cut McIlroy before van Beek used the long handle to drill ul Hassan for four o long-on and long-off.

Van der Gugten then had another spell at the Diglis End with ul Hassan switching to the New Road End where he was drilled over mid-off for four by the assertive van Beek. D’Oliveira also punched van der Gugten off the back foot through point for four. The Dutch international was also cover driven by his fellow countryman for a pair of fours but during his seventeenth over a dejected van der Gugten departed the field with a leg strain.

Kellaway returned shortly before tea and was cover-driven by d’Oliveira before van Beek pulled Harris for four as well as square-driving him for another boundary. He then completed his fifty from 73 balls by driving Kellaway through extra-cover for four besides bringing up the 200.

Lunchtime Report

This could be a decisive game in determining who, together with Durham, will be promoted into Division Two of the competition for 2024, with second-placed Worcestershire meeting third-placed Glamorgan. The Welsh county start this important match fourteen points behind Worcestershire who, after Glamorgan’s draw at Derby, leap-frogged above them by recording their fourth victory of the season by clinching a 110-run victory over Gloucestershire during the final hour of their match at Cheltenham College.

However, Glamorgan’s sole victory this summer in four-day cricket came against Worcestershire at Cardiff and this may have influenced Kiran Carlson’s decision to bowl first under clear blue skies this morning at New Road. Glamorgan handed a first-class debut to Ben Kellaway, with Eddie Byrom and James Harris also returning to the team. It was Timm van der Gugten and Jamie McIlroy who opened the bowling, with the Dutch international making an early breakthrough as Jake Libby sparred at a ball outside off stump and feathered a catch into Chris Cooke’s gloves.

9-1 saw Azhar Ali join Gareth Roderick who struck the day’s first boundaries as he off-drove van der Gugten before also outside-edging him to the ropes at third. But in the twelfth over the uber-accurate McIlory made a further incision as Azhar chipped a slower ball into Byrom’s hands at short mid-wicket with Worcestershire on 28-2.

It then became 33-3 as Jack Haynes edged Harris into Cooke’s gloves before Adam Hose announced his arrival by square-cutting Harris for four. Zain ul Hassan then followed in McIlroy’s frugal fashion at the New Road End as he began with two maidens and saw Roderick thick-edge a ball just wide of a diving third slip. Hose then straight-drove Harris for a pair of fours before Roderick did the same as well as greeting the return of van der Gugten shortly before lunch.

Evening Update
Tea had been taken at the end of the Glamorgan innings so there were still 50 overs remaining as Worcestershire began their second innings at 1505 with a lead of 114 runs. McIlroy gave Glamorgan the perfect start as he trapped Gareth Roderick l.b.w. with his first delivery before Azhar Ali got the scoreboard moving as he square-drove the left-armer for four. He then off-drove Harris before Jake Libby did the same to McIlroy.

Kiran Carlson entered the attack in the ninth over at the New Road End and had a spell in tandem with Zain ul Hassan as Libby and Azhar accumulated mainly in one’s and two’s and steadied the ship after Roderick’s early departure. Azhar also reverse-swept Carlson for four before playing an orthodox sweep for four against the visiting captain. But with the total on 81, McIlroy returned at the Diglis End and removed Azhar who under-edged a cut into Cooke’s gloves.

Nine runs later McIlroy struck again as Libby edged to Ingram at first slip before, with the total on 97, McIlroy claimed his fourth wicket as Jack Haynes gave Sam Northeast a waist-high catch at second slip. Having been joined by Kashif Ali, Adam Hose greeted the return of James Harris by cover-driving him for four. Ul Hassan also returned at the New Road End and was drilled through the covers by Hose. But next over he shouldered arms to Harris and was bowled.

The collapse continued as 116-5 swiftly became 116-7 as ul Hassan trapped Kashif l.b.w. before four balls later he bowled van Beek as the Dutch international also had his stumps re-arranged as he offered no shot. Five runs later Harris bowled Allison as Worcestershire ended a dramatic day on 127-8, leading by 241 runs.

Afternoon Update

Glamorgan resumed on 101-5 after lunch but after four balls it was 101-6 as Carlson drilled Allison into van Beek’s hands at cover. Chris Cooke announced his arrival with a sumptuous cover drive followed by an on-drive against Leach. He then upper-cut the all-rounder over the slip cordon before Root outside-edged Leach for four. Cooke also cover-drove van Beek before clipping him to mid-wicket as the Glamorgan innings continued to resemble that of Worcestershire’s yesterday after the clatter of early wickets.

Cooke then pulled van Beek for four to mid-wicket before edging the next delivery into Roderick’s gloves. 163-7 then became 168-8 as Kellaway was caught, albeit at the second attempt, by Jack Haynes at second slip before van der Gugten made his way to the middle with Byrom as his runner. It was only a brief stay as he edged his second delivery to second slip before Jasmie McIlroy was bowled by van Beek as Glmaorgan were dismissed for 170.

Morning Update

Sunday had seen the return of Championship cricket after a month of the music and razzamatazz of The Hundred, and where more quintessentially British could it have happened than at New Road where the only accompaniment to the play was a twelve-bell peel of Bristol Surprise Maximus from the adjoining Cathedral to celebrate the retirement of a member of the Dean and Chapter. After Glamorgan had opted to bowl first in a must-win game, their seamers reduced the home side to 110-6 before Timm van der Gugten sustained a hamstring injury and departed for treatment, with Brett d’Oliveira, together with Logan van Beek and Ben Allison, on loan from Essex, overseeing a recovery to 289.

James Harris and Eddie Byrom had survived the two overs from last night but this morning, the latter edged the second delivery from Joe Leach into Adam Hose’s hands at first slip. Zain ul Hassan came in and struck the day’s first four as he steered Leach through point for four before Harris nurdled Leach to third, followed by a rasping cover-drive. But with the total on 23 Leach struck again as ul Hassan edged into Gareth Roderick’s gloves.

Having been joined by Colin Ingram, Harris responded by swatting a short ball from Dillon Pennington for four but two balls later he departed l.b.w. as Worcestershire claimed their first bowling point. Ingram began with a booming cover drive against Leach whilst Sam Northeast had a life as Cameron Jones, the substitute fielder, spilled a catch as the Glamorgan chipped Logan van Beek’s first delivery to mid-wicket.

Ingram then steered van Beek through backward point for four before drilling Ben Alliosn through Azhar Ali’s hands at extra cover for four. The southpaw celebrated his good fortune by drilling Allison through mid-off four but with the total on 62, Pennington returned at the Diglis End and removed Northeast who edged to third slip. Kiran Carlson began by nurdling Allison to third for four but with the total on 76, van Beek switched to the New Road End and removed Ingram who also edged to Libby at third slip.

Billy Root began with fours to square-leg and backward point before Carlson twice edged Pennington through the gully for further boundaries as well as edging a ball into and out of van Beek’s hands at fourth slip.

Close of Play Report

Glamorgan were 49-4 when play resumed after lunch with Sam Northeast soon into his stride as he clipped Leach to square-leg for four. Joe Root also twice edged Pennington through the slips for a pair of fours before on-driving him for four. IN Pennington’s next over, he was struck a painful blow on his left hand and after treatment, he showed no ill effect as he square-cut the paceman for four. But with the total on 85 Northeast edged Leach where Adam Hose diving forward held a low catch.

Chris Cooke began by nurdling Leach for four before drilling van Beek for four to long-on. Root then square-drove van Beek for a pair of fours, followed by an on-drive for four, plus a cover drive next ball to the ropes in front of the Pavilion to complete a 53-ball fifty. Cooke then biffed Allison over extra-cover for four but next ball he edged low into the slip cordon where Jake Libby completed the catch.

129-6 then became 130-7 as Ben Kellaway was bowled by van Beek as the teenager played a defensive stroke only to see the ball cannon onto his stumps. James Harris began with a thick outside edge to third plus a top-edge to the ropes, each off Allison, with Root also cover-driving the loanee as the target dropped below the 100-mark.

Hose then dropped Root as he edged Pennington , but the bowler claimed the next wicket as, with the total on 166, Harris edged to Haynes at third slip with Timm van der Gugten making his way to the middle with Eddie Byrom as his runner. But he edged his third ball from Leach to Hose at first slip before Root was dropped by Hose attempting to reverse-sweep Libby’s spin as in an attempt to improve their over rate and avoid a points deduction. After some hurried overs, van Beek ended the contest as he bowled McIlroy with Root ending unbeaten on 84.

Morning Update

For the second successive year, Glamorgan could be involved in a humdinger of a run chase at New Road. Last year, they successfully chased a target of 332 after Colin Ingram had laid the foundations for victory by patiently compiling a century during a four and a quarter hour stay at the crease, before Billy Root took centre-stage and with an unbeaten 99 saw the Welsh county to their target. This year, so far, it has been a fine collective effort by the injury-struck visitors after Worcestershire, leading by 114 runs on first innings, nosedived from 90-2 to 121-8 in the space of 10.3 overs with Jamie McIlory completing career-best figures of 4/27, whilst both James Harris and Zain ul Hassan delivered a pair of probing spells.

The net result of this outstanding bowling performance during the final hour and a half yesterday was that Worcestershire resumed with a lead of 241 runs with just two second innings wickets remaining. Joe Leach began with a booming cover drive against James Harris before Brett d’Oliveira swatted a short ball from McIlroy to mid-wicket. But the home captain departed in the next over as he was caught at second slip by Sam Northeast trying to nurdle a ball from Harris. 142-9 then became 145 all out as McIlroy took a one-handed catch in his follow through to remove Pennington and also to complete his maiden five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.

Worcestershire’s last nine wickets had tumbled for 64 runs with Glamorgan’s target being 260 in a minimum of 183 overs, but they lost an early wicket as Leach trapped Eddie Byrom l.b.w. in his third over. 3-1 might have immediately become 3-2 as Colin Ingram then edged the next delivery between second and third slip, much to the bowler’s chagrin. Ingram responded by pummelling Leach through extra-cover before Ben Allison replaced Leach at the Diglis End and saw Azhar Ali spill a chance at mid-wicket as Zain ul Hassan chipped a ball in the air.

But Ingram was not so fortunate as in the next over he edged Logan van Beek to Jake Libby at third slip. Two balls later 30-2 became 30-3 as Allison uprooted ul Hassan’s off stump. Sam Northeast began by straight-driving van Beek for four but the Dutch international then trapped Kiran Carlson leg before. Northeast responded by clipping Allison to square-leg and mid-on for four as Glamorgan reached **** at lunch.