Willey blasts Northants well ahead

The in-form David Willey produced another breathtaking innings on the second day of promotion-chasing Northamptonshire's match against Glamorgan.

Willey followed up his century against Warwickshire in the Yorkshire Bank 40 three days ago with a stunning 81 - his highest first-class total - off just 73 balls, including six huge sixes. It helped Northamptonshire build a big first-innings lead as they were eventually bowled out for 453, 212 runs ahead of Glamorgan's total, with Andrew Hall hammering 91 not out off 134 deliveries and Mike Reed taking 4 for 109.

The hosts began the day on 85 without loss, 156 runs behind their opponents, with their captain Stephen Peters resuming on 39 and James Middlebrook on 38. It did not take long for Peters to reach 50 off 80 balls in the third over of the day but he was to perish on 61 when he edged Reed to Jim Allenby at first slip to break the opening stand on 115.

Middlebrook then completed his half-century off 73 deliveries, but he departed for 59 when he sliced a loose drive off Reed to Glamorgan captain and wicketkeeper Mark Wallace.

Alex Wakely threw his wicket away on 36 when he gave Gareth Rees an easy catch at mid-on and gift Reed a third wicket before Dean Cosker removed Ben Duckett when he was taken by Wallace. Glamorgan's fightback continued as Andrew Salter's terrific delivery clipped David Sales' off stump to dismiss him for 48 before Steven Crook nudged the very next ball to Wallace.

But Willey reinforced his side's innings with a spectacular half-century off just 51 balls as Northamptonshire reached tea on 309 for six. He and Hall went on to set a new record seventh-wicket partnership for the county against Glamorgan, surpassing the 105 made between William Denton and Benjamin Bellamy at Swansea in 1922.

Willey went past his previous first-class best of 77 - made against Leicestershire in May - before he tentatively edged Wagg to Allenby at first slip to end the partnership on 115. Hall then became the fourth Northamptonshire batsman to go past 50, off 85 balls, as the relentless hosts claimed a full set of batting bonus points with 13 overs to spare.

Reed then took out Trent Copeland's off stump after the Australian had bludgeoned 34 before Northamptonshire wicketkeeper David Murphy feathered Allenby to Wallace. Cosker was to end the hosts' innings - and the day's proceedings - when he trapped Muhammad Azharullah lbw for 2.