Glamorgan prosper despite Cosgrove duck

Glamorgan 369 and 355 for 6 v Worcestershire 350 for 8 dec.
Scorecard

Positive batting from Ben Wright and Tom Maynard put Glamorgan into a useful position going into the final day of their County Championship match against Worcestershire at Colwyn Bay. Wright, 97 not out at the close, and Maynard, who fell two runs short of his maiden Championship century, helped to take Glamorgan to 355 for 6 in their second innings, an overall lead of 374. There were also half centuries for Jim Allenby and Gareth Rees.

Glamorgan's slender first-innings lead of 19 after Worcestershire declared at lunch on 350 for 8, with Daryl Mitchell 165 not out, was given an immediate boost when Rees scored 21 from the opening two overs. However, the home side lost the prolific Mark Cosgrove, who was bowled for a fifth-ball duck via a bottom edge to give Matt Mason his 300th first-class wicket.

There was no indication of the fireworks to follow as Maynard moved carefully to nine before opening his shoulders during his two-hour innings of stroke play. Maynard scored a maiden one-day century against Northamptonshire at Colwyn Bay last year and he was close to following suit with a first championship century.

He gave notice of his attacking intentions by putting Shakib Al Hasan over long off and midwicket for two consecutive sixes and then planted Richard Jones over point for another maximum on his way to a 51-ball half-century. Rees followed him to 50 from 58 balls. The attacking intent continued as Maynard swept Al Hasan over square leg, and then he followed that up with a well-hit six off Mason into the pavilion at midwicket to move from 92 to 98.

But any hopes he had of reaching three figures were dashed when he edged Mason's next ball to Daryl Mitchell at slip ending a second-wicket partnership of 150 in 30 overs. After a blip when Glamorgan lost three wickets in seven overs Wright and Allenby put on 135 in 28 overs for the fifth wicket.

At the start of the day play was held up for 55 minutes because of rain before Worcestershire resumed their first innings on 281 for 6, still 88 runs adrift of Glamorgan. Helped by the second new ball Huw Waters broke through in the second over of the day to bowl Ben Cox for two. He was followed back to the pavilion by Richard Jones who edged Mark Cosgrove to third slip.

Mitchell, who was on 136 overnight, went to 150 while Mason scored six fours in his 25. The ninth wicket pair put on 48 before Worcestershire declared just before lunch straight after they registered a fourth batting point.

Mitchell finished unbeaten with his third successive championship century giving him a remarkable average of 403 in his last three knocks. Without being dismissed he has scored 299 runs facing 514 balls and batted for just over 13 hours.