Northants save a draw

Northamptonshire hold on to claim eight points at Cardiff

Last updated: 19th June 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Northants save a draw

Rees: Scored 116 not out

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LV County Championship - Division Two
The SWALEC Stadium
Glamorgan 308 (M J Cosgrove 102 no, M J Powell 88, D H Wigley 5-78) & 232-3 dec (G P Rees 116 no, J W M Dalrymple 70 no) v Northamptonshire 215-8 dec (A G Wakely 113 no) & 140-6 (N Boje 52)
Glamorgan (9pts) drew with Northamptonshire (8pts)

Gareth Rees scored his first County Championship century of the season, but Glamorgan could not force victory against Northamptonshire.

Jamie Dalrymple's very conservative second-innings declaration left Northamptonshire with 326 to win in a minimum of 56 overs after Glamorgan had pulled in at 232 for three.

But, although the visitors were reduced to 10 for two in the fifth over when James Harris claimed two wickets with successive balls, Northamptonshire hung on despite being precariously placed at 140 for six when time ran out.

First Harris had Stephen Peters well caught by the diving wicketkeeper Mark Wallace before he removed the off stump of first-innings centurion Alex Wakely.

The introduction of spin saw Robert Croft trap Ron White leg before wicket to leave Northamptonshire 48 for three in the 18th over before Nicky Boje and Mark Nelson steadied the ship.

But Adam Shanty broke through twice in two overs after tea to remove Nelson, caught behind, and Boje, who had his leg stump removed.

From 116 for five Northamptonshire slumped further to 123 for six when Johannes van der Wath was caught by Wallace after the ball ricocheted up off silly point.

There were no more scares for the visitors, though, as Andrew Hall and David Willey batted out the next 15 overs to secure Northants eight points and Glamorgan nine.

Day three

Alex Wakely hit a career best 113 not out as Northamptonshire hit back on day three of their LV County Championship Division Two clash at Cardiff.

The former England Under 19 batsman held the visitors' first innings together after they had resumed the day on a shaky 28 for three.

Things got worse when Nicky Boje was trapped leg before wicket in the fourth over, leaving Wakely and Mark Nelson to rescue their side from the depths of 37 for four.

Adam Shantry bowled Nelson for 10 thereafter and South African all-rounder Andrew Hall made 44 before being caught and bowled by slow left-armer Dean Cosker.

Robert Croft then celebrated his 950th first-class wicket before Boje showed some positive intent by declaring the Northamptonshire first innings on 215 for eight, still 93 runs behind.

Glamorgan's openers Mark Cosgrove and Gareth Rees put on 42 for the first wicket of their second innings before Monty Panesar's first ball of the innings broke through the latter's defences.

By the close Glamorgan had reached 59 for one - an overall lead of 152 - in a match that looks to be drifting towards a draw.

Day two

Teenage Glamorgan seamer James Harris took two wickets in a rain-affected second day at Cardiff.

Northamptonshire were reduced to 28-3 in the 15.2 overs that were possible on Wednesday, with Harris's first victim wicketkeeper David Murphy trapped lbw in the fourth over of the morning.

Stephen Peters then edged David Harrison to Jamie Dalrymple at second slip and Rob White fell leg before wicket to Harris as the visitors were reduced to 10-3.

Alex Wakely and Nico Boje stopped the rot for Northamptonshire, but the players were forced from the field at 12.05pm and were unable to return because of the weather.

Day One

Glamorgan opener Mark Cosgrove scored his second century of the season but was then forced to retire hurt on day one against Northamptonshire.

Glamorgan's overseas player retired three balls after reaching the milestone, however an x-ray revealed no serious damage.

The Australian struck a scintillating 102 not out off 139 balls to help Glamorgan up to 308 all out, however Northants responded well as seamer David Wigley finished with 5-77.

After winning the toss Glamorgan found themselves on 29-2 inside 10 overs thanks to Wigley, who accounted for out-of-form Gareth Rees (4) and Ben Wright (6).

Cosgrove launched a counter-attack and registered his fifth score of more than 50 in seven innings. His half-century came off 73 balls.

Despite being in pain after being hit by Wigley while on 94, Cosgrove was determined to reach his century, which he did via an inside edge for four off the same bowler.

His retirement brought captain Jamie Dalrymple to the middle, but there was a rare failure for the batsman who was averaging 88.5 going into the game. He went for one, caught behind off Wigley.

Michael Powell, who reached a patient 50 from 153 balls, and Mark Wallace then added 58 before the Dragons' wicketkeeper was bowled via a bottom edge off Monty Panesar (1-81).

Evergreen all-rounder Robert Croft smashed 43 off 40 balls but Glamorgan lost their last four wickets for just two runs. It was then left to Northants openers David Murphy and Stephen Peters to negotiate one over from James Harris before stumps.

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