Glamorgan run chase threatens Worcestershire promotion hopes

Glamorgan 280 (Bragg 98, Wallace 67*) and 16-1 require a further 261 to beat Worcestershire 163 (Hogan 4-44) and 393 (Clarke 98, Fell 65, Leach 65, Wagg 5-90)
Scorecard

Graham Wagg's first five wicket haul of the season and a record-equalling performance by keeper Mark Wallace enabled Glamorgan to finally dismiss Worcestershire for 393 on day three of the Specsavers County Championship clash at New Road.

But fine knocks from England Lions batsman Joe Clarke (98) and vice-captain Joe Leach (65 not out) enabled the promotion-chasing home side to set a 277 target although the pitch remains batsmen-friendly.

Then Leach struck an early blow for the home side as Nick Selman was caught behind without a run on the board - his third successive duck as Glamorgan closed on 16 for 1

Wagg finished with 5 for 90 from 33 overs of toil in the scorching heat while Wallace matched his own and Colin Metson's Glamorgan record of nine dismissals in a see-saw match.

However the individual highlight of the day was teenager Lukas Carey pulling off one of the catches of the season to deny Clarke a fifth first class century of the campaign. Clarke pulled a delivery from Wagg which looked to be sailing over the square leg boundary for six. But Carey, 19, stuck out his right hand and held onto the ball at full stretch on the edge of the rope to end Clarke's fine knock.

The home side had resumed on 150-2 - and within two overs had lost two wickets as Tom Fell and Tom Kohler-Cadmore were dismissed. Fell had failed to add to his overnight 65 when he drove hard at Wagg and nicked through to Wallace. Kohler-Cadmore completed a pair when he pushed forward to Michael Hogan and was also caught behind.

Worcestershire, who trailed by 117 runs on first innings, were then effectively 35 for 4 but Clarke and Ross Whiteley responded with a fifth wicket stand of 104 in 36.1 overs.

Clarke looked in particularly fine form until Carey's stunning catch and Whiteley was dismissed in bizarre fashion by Wagg's next delivery. The left hander ducked under a Wagg delivery but left his bat upright periscope-style and the ball ballooned off it into the hands of Wallace. Ben Cox and Ed Barnard were both trapped lbw to Craig Meschede and Wagg who completed a five wicket haul.

Leach and Jack Shantry provided further resistance in a ninth wicket stand of 56 with the former going to his half century with a six over long-on off Owen Morgan.