Northants in control after Middlebrook four

Offspinner James Middlebrook recorded his best figures for Northamptonshire as they dominated the first day of their County Championship match against Glamorgan at Swansea.

The Division Two leaders bowled Glamorgan out for 252 in their first innings, with Middlebrook recording figures of 4 for 63 in 17 overs. Only Stewart Walters, with 81 not out, offered any real resistance for the Welsh county. In reply, Northamptonshire openers Stephen Peters (28) and Mal Loye (35) took their side to 67 for nought at the close.

After winning the toss Glamorgan seemed to make a solid start on a slow St Helen's pitch against the left-arm opening attack of Chaminda Vaas and David Lucas.

Vaas, who got some swing with the new ball in the warm conditions, had three lbw appeals against Gareth Rees turned down by Steve Gale. But the fourth decision was upheld as Glamorgan found themselves 40 for one and that became 44 for three as Will Bragg and Alviro Petersen were out in consecutive overs.

First, Bragg played a loose shot, edging to Rob White at third slip to give Lucas a wicket with his first ball from the sea end, before captain Andrew Hall trapped Petersen with one that kept low. Petersen had looked untroubled until that moment, having struck seven fours in his 33.

Glamorgan were able to launch a pre-lunch recovery helped by Walters, preferred in the side to Ben Wright, dispatching Lucas for a six and a four in the same over. After reaching 93 for three at lunch Glamorgan proceeded to lose seven wickets in the afternoon session.

The regular fall of wickets started with slow left-armer Paul Best, on loan from Warwickshire, bowling Michael Powell, before Jim Allenby clipped a ball straight to mid-wicket - the first of Middlebrook's four wickets.

Mark Wallace went leg before playing round his pad, James Harris was bowled behind his legs and Graham Wagg was stumped giving Middlebrook his impressive return. Vaas returned to remove Robert Croft and Dean Cosker, leaving Walters stranded on 81 after nearly three hours in the middle. He faced 132 balls and hit seven fours and two sixes.

In reply Peters and Loye both played sensibly and also prevented James Harris, the England Lions seamer, from taking his 200th first-class victim. Just before the close Loye survived a confident leg before appeal by Cosker.