Rain helps fighting Glamorgan

Glamorgan 273 for 9 v Surrey 380
Scorecard

Torrential rain and a crucial ninth-wicket stand between Jim Allenby and Dean Cosker stalled Surrey's progress on day three of the County Championship encounter with Glamorgan at the Brit Oval.

Glamorgan had just scraped past the follow-on target of 231 when the heavens opened shortly before 2pm, and although the ground was bathed in sunshine after the rain relented, it was not possible resume until 5pm.

When play did get under way again Allenby (65*) brought up his fifty in 80 deliveries and, in alliance with Huw Waters (16*), safely negotiated the remaining twenty overs, trimming Surrey's lead to 107 as Glamorgan closed on 273 for 9.

That Surrey even entertained the prospect of enforcing the follow-on prior to the rain delay was due to a superb exhibition of seam bowling from Stuart Meaker, who ended the day with 5 for 97, and Chris Tremlett, who chipped in with 3 for 53.

Tremlett picked up the wicket of Ben Wright with his first delivery, caught at third slip. Seven overs later, Meaker accounted for Jamie Dalrymple, who provided Gareth Batty with the first of three catches. But Tom Maynard and Allenby put the home side on the back foot with an intelligent fifth-wicket stand that harvested 87 in 20 overs.

Maynard, playing adeptly square of the wicket, hit a 79-ball half-century - his third championship fifty in six innings - which included nine fours. But having been 184 for 4 with five minutes to go before lunch, Glamorgan went into the break six men down.

Maynard was caught at first slip for 61 of Meaker, while five balls later, Chris Schofield got one to skid on to leave Mark Wallace's middle stump lying on the ground. Glamorgan's ill-fortune continued after the break when James Harris was adjudged leg before.

When Meaker had Robert Croft caught down the leg-side, to record his second five-wicket haul of the season, the visitors looked destined to follow-on. But thanks to a belligerent 33-run ninth-wicket alliance between Allenby and Cosker, Surrey's hopes of sticking the visitors in again were thwarted.

The follow-on was averted when, in the 60th over, Cosker stole a quick single off Meaker. Cosker departed in the very next over, but having achieved his team's objective.