Glamorgan secure their first Championship win of the season

The Championship match between Glamorgan and Northamptonshire continued to be a real dogfight as Glamorgan after being bowled out for 220 fought back gamely to dismiss Northants for 172 to win by 55 runs with Michael Kasprowicz taking 6-72, including a spell of 4-39 bowling unchanged for 14 overs after tea.

The Australian`s fine bowling saw the Welsh county to their first Championship win of the season and they were also indebted to a seasons best 73 from Jonathan Hughes and an unbeaten 50 from Robert Croft, who astutely marshalled some tailend resistance, adding 80 for the last two wickets with Michael Kasprowicz and Alex Wharf. In the end, these proved to be vital runs and with the conditions still helping the bowlers, this left Northants chasing a tricky target of 228.

In the opening overs, it looked as if the gods were not smiling on Glamorgan. Firstly David Harrison, who had been so impressive on Saturday, was forced out of the attack after damaging a finger as his hand hit the stumps as he ran in to bowl his fourth ball. Then Kasprowicz had both of the Northants openers caught in the slips, but each time the big Queenslander had overstepped the crease.

However, the luck change in Kasprowicz`s next over as he clean bowled Rob White, and then in the following over he dismissed Hussey as the left-hander cut a ball into the hands of Dean Cosker in the gulley. Phil Jacques and Jeff Cook survived a few scares before Croft came on and immediately had Cook well caught by Powell at first slip. After receiving treatment on his hand, Harrison returned to the attack and removed David Sales as he attempted to flick one off his legs.

Northants took tea on 102-4, still needing 126 with six wickets in hand, but the game decisively changed complexion in then overs after the interval, firstly as Dean Cosker brilliantly ran out Mark Powell as the young batsman tried to scramble a single. Then Jacques who had reached his fifty with six fours and a six, edged Kasprowicz to the wicket-keeper Wallace as he attempted a cut .

The lion-hearted seamer then claimed two more victims as he trapped Tobin Bailey leg before, and then forced Carl Greenidge to spoon up a catch to Jonathan Hughes at short-leg. Kasprowicz took his sixth wicket when he clean bowled Ben Phillips, and then David Harrison returned to the attack, and with his very first delivery, he applied the coup de grace as Alex Wharf held onto a steepling catch as Nel holed out at mid-off to give Glamorgan a well deserved victory.

Earlier, play had resumed with Glamorgan 78 runs ahead with six second innings wickets in hand. Hughes duly reached his half century of the season after striking nine boundaries, but shortly afterwards he lost his partner Matthew Maynard who fell to a fine one handed catch by a diving Mark Powell at cover point.

Five overs later Glamorgan lost their second wicket of the morning as Mark Wallace was leg before shouldering arms to Andre Nel. But Hughes continued to play freely and was two runs short of a career best when he was adjudged leg before playing forward to Carl Greenidge. Only one run had been added when David Harrison was stumped as he advanced down the wicket to Jason Brown, to leave Glamorgan on 140-8.

As in the first innings Robert Croft defended resolutely, but the Glamorgan captain was not afraid to punish any wayward deliveries. Kasprowicz also lent useful support, and the Australian mixed caution with aggression, striking Brown high over mid-wicket for six.

The pair had added fifty in 14 overs when in the third over after lunch Kasprowicz edged a delivery from Nel to the wicket-keeper, but any thoughts that Northants may have had over quickly finishing off the innings were dispelled by Alex Wharf who flicked Phillips nonchalantly off his legs for a six over square-leg. Croft remained resolute at the other end and reached a most deserved half century after over two hours at the crease, glancing Nel for a single. But next ball Wharf edged Nel to Sales at first slip having added a valuable 30 for the final wicket with his captain to set up the run chase in the final innings.