| LV= County Championship Division Two, Sophia Gardens Cardiff (day one) |
| Worcestershire 109 (40.3 overs): Roderick 39; Harris 4-18, Neser 4-40, Van der Gugten 2-28 |
| Glamorgan 177-6 (53 overs): Lloyd 48, Labuschagne 42; Finch 3-39, Leach 2-46 |
| Glamorgan (3 pts) lead Worcestershire (2 pts) by 68 runs with 4 first-innings wickets standing |
| Match scorecard |
Glamorgan edged right into a slim lead over Worcestershire because the guests fought again within the closing session after trying down and out.
They begin day two on 177-6, 68 forward of Worcestershire’s paltry 109 all out.
Michael Neser (4-40), James Harris (4-18) and Timm van der Gugten shot the Pears out by mid-afternoon.
However Glamorgan captain David Lloyd’s 48 proved the highest rating as Adam Finch (3-39) and Joe Leach (2-46) sparked a collapse.
Billy Root (25 not out) and Neser (33 not out) then added 57 within the closing hour to tilt a dramatic day again in the direction of the house facet, in solely the second partnership to cross 40 within the day.
The choice to bowl first appeared a marginal one however Glamorgan’s in-form opening bowlers made probably the most of any moisture within the pitch.
Taylor Cornall, a late call-up to the facet, fell leg-before to Van der Gugten for six earlier than a trio of sharp slip catches accounted for the following three wickets, with Marnus Labuschagne’s low seize to ship again Pakistan star Azhar Ali notably spectacular and necessary.
Brett D’Oliveira performed round a supply from Neser second ball, and when Glamorgan finally modified the bowling, Adam Hose dragged James Harris’s first supply onto his stumps for a 15-ball duck.
Roderick and Waite managed to dig in till the interval at 66-6, however 4 balls after the break Neser produced the ball of the innings to scrub up Waite for 22.
Joe Leach (16) and Roderick obtained Worcestershire into treble figures whereas trying comparatively untroubled, earlier than Harris wrapped the innings up rapidly as he had Leach caught behind down leg-side, pressured Roderick to edge to slide for the highest rating of 39, and trapped Finch lbw first ball.
Leach was rapidly into his work with the ball as Eddie Byrom edged behind, however Worcestershire gave early let-offs to each Lloyd and Labuschagne who gave sharp slip possibilities.
Lloyd was quickly driving with confidence towards some free bowling, and hit 9 fours in his 48 in a stand of 81 with Labuschagne earlier than Leach returned to bowl the captain in his second spell.
Remarkably Worcestershire turned the match spherical after tea as Matthew Waite, whose first two overs price 19, conceded simply three runs in a six-overs spell and grabbed the wicket of Labuschagne.
Finch struck to take away Sam Northeast, Kiran Carlson and Chris Cooke as Glamorgan grew to become becalmed whereas dropping 5 wickets for 32.
Neser’s uncomplicated method and the busy Root managed to halt the batting slide on the finish of a captivating day.
Glamorgan assistant coach David Harrison instructed BBC Sport Wales::
“We weren’t actually positive what to do on the toss, however due to the moisture within the wicket and the rain we have had it was in all probability an excellent time to bowl. The way in which the blokes bowled as a collective was spot on, they held their lengths very well and brought about Worcestershire issues.
“David Lloyd obtained us off to a pleasant constructive begin, with Marnus within the type he is in. However the wicket’s a sluggish one and Worcester bowled properly after tea to peg us again.
“There’s nonetheless sufficient within the pitch even with the older ball, however that partnership between Michael Neser and Billy Root has put us in an excellent place.
“I am unable to see the wicket getting a lot faster with two heavy rollers to return, up to now it is obtained fractionally higher.”
Worcestershire assistant coach Kadeer Ali instructed BBC Hereford & Worcester:
“It was a really bizarre day, we had been disappointing with the bat regardless that Glamorgan bowled actually properly, Gareth Roderick batted very well however we had been a bit mushy with our dismissals and we did not begin properly with the ball.
“Then on the again finish of the day we confirmed a little bit of spirit and character, the boys bowled properly and confirmed a little bit of battle.
“Earlier than tea our lengths had been actually full and we obtained pushed down the bottom and hit via mid-wicket. So we had an excellent chat at tea and hit extra again of a size, so it was chalk and cheese.
“In all three departments Glamorgan had been higher than us, we dropped a few necessary possibilities, however we’re nonetheless within the recreation.”
