Woeful Glamorgan slump to heavy defeat

Kent inflicted upon Glamorgan their second heaviest post-war defeat, by a runs margin, in the championship.

They wasted little time taking the remaining eight Glamorgan wickets, unaffected by showers that removed more than half the morning session on the final day.

The 316-run defeat was a reflection of Kent's superiority in all departments, and there will surely be an inquest on Glamorgan's woeful performance over the four days.

Although captain Jacques Rudolph was absent on paternity leave, they should certainly have scored more than the 444 runs they managed in both innings ,and apart from Colin Ingram and James Kettleborough in the second innings, there was little or no application from the others .

One could sympathise with the young opening batsman Jeremy Lawlor, who recorded a pair on his championship debut, especially as he had to open the batting even though he has batted at No.4 for the second eleven for most of the summer.

The club might also argue that they only have 15 full time professionals on the staff, and there has been a heavy workload on the quicker bowlers, but they need to sign some players if they not to become perennial under-achievers in Division Two.

Kent meanwhile, produced a thoroughly professional performance that belied their position in the division, with none performing better than their two veterans Rob Key and Darren Stevens.

It was Stevens who began the collapse in Glamorgan's second innings when he produced a spell of 4 for 10 in 17 deliveries.

Kettleborough was his first victim when he was bowled for 56 - his best score for Glamorgan - before Chris Cooke, Aneurin Donald and Gramam Wagg were dismissed in quick succession.

Stevens also claimed his 60th victim of the season, his best return in the championship, and with his 699 championship runs, continues to be an integral part of the Kent team.

Key, since returning to opening the batting from No 3, has scored over 500 runs at an average of 75.00 and here he played two faultless innings and compiled an aggregate of 252 runs.

Ingram's first century in the championship came from 174 balls to supplement the three centuries and a fifty he scored in the Royal London Cup. He was given useful support by Andrew Salter at the end of the innings, but when it all ended Glamorgan had gone down to their fourth championship defeat of the season.