Glamorgan keep Lancashire at bay.
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| Anderson claimed three late wickets, but Glamorgan still hold the key in this match. |
Glamorgan
claimed the spoils on the first day of their Championship encounter with
recently relegated side Lancashire at Colwyn Bay. The visitors were reduced to 123 all out,
having faced a mere 53 overs, before the Welsh side finished on a comparatively
impressive total of 110-4. This match saw the extended inclusion of
international players, but also Marcus North, who featured as an overseas
player for the visitors in the 2005 Season.
Lancashire enjoyed early success, having won the toss, but they suffered from the constant
loss of wickets, which would be a
motif throughout the days play. Paul Horton's form has been abnormally poor in
the preliminary stages of the campaign and this continued, when he left a
straight delivery from Michael Hogan, as he was dismissed for a duck on the
second ball of the match. Hogan's elation was prolonged by yet another
breakthrough, as Karl Brown, who scored 87 versus Kent, was also bowled for 6,
as the visitors were restrained to 14-2.
Relief came through Luke Procter and Ashwell
Prince, as they established a 40-run partnership for the third wicket, but the
former was trapped leg before for 26, as Jim Allenby claimed his first wicket.
No further runs were added, but Prince was next to go for 17, as the 2011
County Champions were limping their way through the morning session.
Having just claimed the South-African
batsmen, Michael Reed made his final contribution to the innings, removing Steven
Croft who pulled to Murray Goodwin at mid-wicket. From this point Lancashire
experienced a minor respite, reaching lunch on 86-5, thanks to the help of
Simon Katich and Gareth Cross, but after the interval their luck would take a
turn for the worse. Both men were dismissed with in a run of one another, as
John Glover removed the backbone of Lancashire’s middle order, with the
visitors now 97-7.
The scoreboard had not been functioning since
lunchtime, but it was far from busy due to Lancashire’s lacklustre performance
with the bat. Glamorgan continued to thrive in the early stages of the
afternoon session, picking up the potentially dangerous wicket of Kyle Hogg and
the Lancashire captain, Glen Chapple, as Hogan and Glover both claimed three
wickets.
Now 103-9, Lancashire had resigned to the
fact that they had achieved a dismal total, but they were able to add twenty
runs for the final stand, as James Anderson and Simon Kerrigan showed some
resistance. But this only added to the visitor’s frustration, as they had seen
many of their competent batsmen removed so easily. Former Lancashire player
Marcus north had enjoyed a spectators role for the majority of the innings, but
claimed the final wicket of Kerrigan with his second delivery, as the number
eleven chipped to Allenby.
Hoping for a miracle, the visitors found
solace from the presence of Anderson in their pace attack, as they embarked on
the next leg of their uphill struggle. Glamorgan reached tea unscathed, but
soon after the break were subjected to their first disappointing aspect of the
days play. Anderson’s short-pitched delivery forced Ben Wright to edge behind
to Cross, as Lancashire took, what they had hoped would be, the first of many
wickets at 12-1.
Stewart Walters joined the remaining opener,
William Bragg and appeared confident until he was cleanly bowled by Anderson
for 15, with the home side now on 36-2. But the stragglers success would be
halted, as Bragg, now joined by North, boosted the home sides response
throughout the evening session. The pair shared a 46-run partnership for the
third wicket, which was brought to an end by Kerrigan, who struck in his first
over, claiming Bragg for 34.
Anderson’s return to the attack brought Lancashire
their fourth wicket, with North trapped leg before for 22, as they claimed a
minimal amount of pride late in the day. But Goodwin and Allenby were able to
see through the rest of play, closing on 110-4 and trailing by a meagre 13
runs.
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