Rothesay County Championship - Day 1: Hampshire 162 v Glamorgan 111/7. Hampshire lead by 51 runs.
By Blake Bint, ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
Pic: England’s Sonny Baker took two instant wickets when returning to Hampshire duty against Glamorgan. Pic credit: Getty Images.
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.
