Collins hurts Glamorgan's hopes

Middlesex 68 for 2 v Glamorgan 198
Scorecard

Former West Indies seamer Pedro Collins did the damage in more ways than one as Middlesex had the better of the first day of their County Championship clash with Glamorgan at Cardiff. Collins not only finished with figures of 4 for 55, as Glamorgan were bowled out for 198, but he was also responsible for breaking Jamie Dalrymple's thumb on his right hand. The Glamorgan skipper is almost certain to miss the rest of the season.

Responding to Glamorgan, who won the toss, Middlesex finished the day on 68 for 2 in their first innings, 130 behind with Scott Newman on 40. The leaders were soon in trouble after electing to bat when Mark Cosgrove went for a first-ball duck edging the perfect out-swinger from Collins behind.

And matters did not improve for the Welsh county as they found themselves 8 for 3. Tim Murtagh broke through twice in consecutive overs. First, Gareth Rees was caught at short leg by Scott Newman and then Ben Wright edged to Dawid Malan at first slip. Murtagh produced a fine opening spell of 9-6-10-2.

Dalrymple and Tom Maynard set about some repairs in a stand of 50 for the fourth wicket. Maynard was the dominant partner striking seven boundaries in his 37. But just before lunch the 21-year-old was adjudged leg before playing round his pad.

Though Dalrymple and James Allenby attempted a second rescue mission either side of lunch the wickets carried on falling at regular intervals. Allenby was caught behind from a Collins out-swinger.

From 90 for 5 Glamorgan were soon 117 for seven as Collins struck again twice in three balls claiming the wickets of Mark Wallace, who was out tamely, caught at fine leg, and Dalrymple who edged a lifting ball to Neil Dexter at second slip. It was a double blow for Dalrymple, as that was also the ball which broke his thumb.

Skipper Dexter got in the action to take the wickets of James Harris, caught by wicketkeeper John Simpson standing up, and Robert Croft, well caught in the gully by Owais Shah. But after that the tail wagged impressively as Cosker and Harrison compiled their record stand.

Harrison hit Dexter over long on twice for six and four as Glamorgan reached 150 and when the partnership went past 60 they had set a new record for the county beating the 10th-wicket partnership by George Lavis and Wilf Jones at Cardiff Arms Park in 1960.

Glamorgan's innings came to a close from the first ball after tea when Harrison was caught at point off Murtagh to leave his side stranded two runs short of a batting point.

Glamorgan dropped both Newman, on 12, and Simpson at fine leg and gully respectively before fighting back to have Middlesex 39 for 2. First Simpson was leg before to Allenby and Shah was caught behind off James Harris.