Croft and Harris defy Nottinghamshire

Robert Croft's 65 and an unbroken stand of 88 with James Harris, the 17-year-old fast bowler, prevented a total collapse by Glamorgan on the first day against Nottinghamshire at Swansea. Glamorgan, already decimated by injury, lost Jimmy Maher in the warm-up with a groin strain, and then Charlie Shreck removed both openers early to leave the home side tottering on 75 for 4 before David Hemp steadied the ship with a fighting 55. Hemp hit eight fours in his fifty and shared in a 69-run stand with Richard Grant (41). But Nottinghamshire's bowlers hit back, reducing Glamorgan to 193 for 8 before Croft and Harris dropped anchor in their valuable ninth-wicket stand. At stumps, Glamorgan were 281 for 8.

Derbyshire took the honours on the first day against Gloucestershire at Derby, thanks to an opening stand of 181 between Steve Stubbings and Dan Birch. Birch cracked 12 fours and three sixes in his 95 before edging the economical Alex Gidman to slip, but Stubbings motored onwards and upwards to register a 201-ball hundred. Gloucestershire, whose bowlers pulled off a thrilling win over Northants yesterday, hit back in the final session as Derbyshire fell from 280 for 2 to 288 for 5. Vikram Banerjee picked up 2 for 46.