Hampshire bat first against injury hit Glamorgan

After a spate of injuries and illness in their opening game of the season at Derby, Glamorgan lost the services of another player even before their first home Championship match, against Hampshire at Cardiff, had begun. Captain Steve James withdrew from the side with a knee injury, and handed over the captaincy duties to Robert Croft.

With a depleted bowling attack at his disposal against a batting line-up boasting the vastly experienced Robin Smith and John Crawley, the acting captain must have been delighted that Glamorgan were able to restrict Hampshire to 381-5 from 104 overs on an easy-paced Sophia Gardens wicket.

After the visitors had won the toss, Crawley and Smith shared a partnership of 123 in 30 overs for the second wicket. Crawley made 65 before being bowled by Alex Wharf, and Smith had moved onto 92 when he edged a delivery from young all-rounder David Harrison into the gloves of wicket-keeper Mark Wallace.

Harrison also claimed the wicket of Will Kendall, trapping the Hampshire batsman leg before for 32. Later in the day, Yorkshire-born Alex Morris and Nic Pothas, who has played in one day internationals for South Africa, added 122 for the fifth wicket in 25 overs. Their stand ended when Morris swatted a short ball from Andrew Davies to David Harrison at mid-off, but Pothas was still there at the close, unbeaten on 81, and in sight of his second Championship century of the season.