Rothesay County Championship - Day 4: Hampshire 162 & 300/8dec v Glamorgan 161 & 21/3. Match drawn.

Glamorgan 11 pts, Hampshire 11 pts.

By Blake Bint, ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay

Hampshire were left frustrated to draw from a prominent position in their Rothesay County Championship tie with Glamorgan at Sophia Gardens.

The visitors, in sight of a win to support survival claims, had Glamorgan struggling at 21 for 3 in their 302-run chase after a declaration at 300 for 8 thanks to a quick bout of boundary hitting.

Toby Albert moved quickly to 64 from his circumspect 17 not out overnight, and Andrew Neal enjoyed a late flurry with 47 from just 20 balls ahead of the declaration at lunch.

Kyle Abbott took two for seven before the rain came to restrict Glamorgan in their defence – the hosts would’ve had 66 overs to bat in a complete day.

The result gives both counties 11 points – with draws likely across the country, Hampshire will remain with work to do to avoid the bottom two while Glamorgan sit mid-table.

Hampshire resumed at 124 for two in an essentially one-innings contest. Albert and Jake Lehmann resumed as they had started the third innings the night before, watchfully.

A first sign of intent was shown when Albert dismissed Zain ul Hassan’s first ball for six over square-leg. Ben Brown and Andrew Neal later built on this intent with a partnership of 43 from just 23 balls.

An over of 18 from Dan Douthwaite’s sole over of the day had Hampshire past 250; it was only 20 further balls to reach their 300 mark and declare thanks to the brutal efforts of Neal.

Concerningly for Glamorgan, ul Hassan was replaced mid-over by Mason Crane. Introduced for the first time 54 overs into the Hampshire second innings, it led to an expensive spell at a tough time to bowl.

Coming out after lunch, no sign of rain loomed initially, much to Glamorgan’s concern when they found themselves three down inside seven overs.

Asa Tribe recorded a pair looking to flick a full Abbott delivery into the leg-side, rapped on the pad.

Crane was forced to replace ul Hassan in his batting duties also, as the usual number nine was boosted to the top of the order to face the pace of Eddie Jack. After being caught at short-leg in the first innings, he was nearly undone by the trap once more, only to fend a shorter delivery to third slip a few balls later.

It took Kiran Carlson 17 balls to get off his pair but didn’t last long either. Ben Kellaway and Colin Ingram managed to keep the dangerously accurate and troubling bowling attack at bay until bad light was called and subsequently rain followed as the players headed to the changing room without the knowledge that would be the end of play just 13.5 overs into the Glamorgan innings.

Hampshire will feel most hard done by after receiving equal points despite their control on days three and four, but still have positives to take going forward in their quest for division one status.

Rothesay County Championship - Day Two: Hampshire 162 v Glamorgan 149/9. Hampshire lead by 13 runs.

By Blake Bint, ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay

Only 19 overs were possible at Sophia Gardens between Glamorgan and Hampshire on day two of the Rothesay County Championship in a vital match for both sides with ambitions at both ends of the table.

After a frantic opening day, which saw 17 wickets fall and 79 overs managed, day two was more frustrating in terms of a result, with seven stoppages telling the moral of the story. Two wickets fell – Mason Crane and Dan Douthwaite – as Glamorgan closed in on Hampshire’s 162, sitting on 149 for 9 at the close of play.

Sonny Baker and Kyle Abbott were allowed to bowl in tandem due to the stop-start nature of play as both threatened on day one. The first passage of play lasted just seven balls, and thereafter the aforementioned duo continued to come out fresh after each delay.

Baker, in particular, continued to test Crane, who looked to get across his stumps time and again before a short-leg ploy brought his wicket just after the early lunch break – during which time the pitch endured 45 minutes of sunshine.

Timm van der Gugten edged his first ball for four but enjoyed some fluent drives to move to 16 not out when play was eventually called to a close. 

Douthwaite faced 86 balls in total, taking until the third period of play to add to his overnight eight. Having to come and go made it difficult to find rhythm in his innings on a return to County Championship cricket for the first time in nearly two years.

He was removed with an edge off the lively Eddie Jack, after showing the warning sign in the Hampshire bowler’s previous over – dropped at slip by Tom Prest – thankfully to minimal further damage in the runs column.

After a lengthy period of rain and an early tea, no further play was possible and time was called at 5:38pm.

There is no interview after day two.

Rothesay County Championship - Day One: Hampshire 162 v Glamorgan 111/7. Hampshire lead by 51 runs.

By Blake Bint, ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay

Sonny Baker made an immediate impact with two wickets in his first over after being subbed into the match during the Glamorgan’s innings as 17 wickets fell on the opening day at Sophia Gardens.

The Hampshire seamer was allowed to be substituted into the match 32 overs into Glamorgan’s innings by the ECB despite being at Lord’s for the Test match with Pakistan earlier this morning. His first over removing Chris Cooke on his third ball, then set half-centurion Ben Kellaway with his sixth ball turned the tide to the hosts finishing the reduced day on 111 for 7.

Before Baker’s impact Glamorgan were making a steady recovery at 102 for 5 after being 0 for 2 just four hours into the opening day. The hosts earlier dismissed Hampshire for 162 – Jake Lehmann’s 51 not out the only resistance against the shared wickets of Glamorgan’s four-pronged seam attack.

The bowling points will prove crucial for both sides as more play was possible than anticipated with Hampshire needing a win for their survival hopes while Glamorgan can still realistically have a title charge and a relegation scare.

Kiran Carlson won the crucial toss with an unlikely 11am start after heavy rain this morning in the Welsh capital. Under murky skies it didn’t take long for Timm van der Gugten to strike before a brief break for bad light just three overs into the day.

Ali Orr put up a dogged effort at the top of the order but with Glamorgan’s medium to medium-fast options, conditions were well in their favour. A middle and lower order tumble from 77 for 2 to 129 for 8 had Hampshire on the backfoot – Lehmann taking a liking to Dan Douthwaite’s four over spell the only upside for the bottom-placed side.

Kyle Abbott managed to support Lehmann to add valuable runs, although still well short of any batting points – he was removed by a stunning one-handed catch down the leg-side from 40-year-old Chris Cooke.

Mir Hamza on a second debut for Glamorgan impressed with 3 for 39, bursting the middle order open at the seams and wrapping up Eddie Jack’s wicket to get Glamorgan in on the first afternoon.

Glamorgan’s top three all recorded ducks – including Jack striking with two wickets in his first over, both caught at third slip – as the host’s found their turn to suffer from the favourable overhead conditions.

Kellaway and Colin Ingram shored up the innings from 11 for 3 at tea. The 65 added by the mix of experience and youth was the biggest partnership of the day. Kellaway passing 50 with a positive effort in recovery for a fourth half-century of the season to go with one century.

Abbott’s impressive longevity throughout the afternoon proved why he leads the division’s wicket charts and Baker’s introduction of pace quickly had Glamorgan back on the backfoot before bad light prevented any more play with 15 overs left scheduled in the day.