Duo see Glamorgan into final day

Half-centuries from Alviro Petersen and Will Bragg ensured Glamorgan took their County Championship match into the final day at Swansea. Division Two leaders Northamptonshire are still firm favourites to secure a sixth win of the season after declaring their first innings on 552 for 9, leaving the home side needing 300 to avoid a second consecutive innings defeat against the East Midlanders.

But thanks to skipper Petersen (75) and Bragg (69) Glamorgan were able to fight another day after a much-improved batting display second time around. By the close Glamorgan had reached 181 for 3, still needing a further 119 to make Northants bat again.

Northamptonshire's 552 was the biggest score by a county side at the ground, beating Leicestershire's 536 in 1996. They had resumed on 434 for 4 and, although they eventually amassed a record score, lost four wickets before lunch.

Andrew Hall was dismissed in the third over of the day when he was trapped lbw by Jim Allenby for 64 offering no stroke. And Stephen Peters' 492 minutes in the middle was ended when he cut a short, wide James Harris ball straight to Stewart Walters at point. Peters was dismissed for a career-best 222 from 390 balls - the seventh-highest score at St Helen's.

Robert Croft claimed his second wicket when he trapped Niall O'Brien lbw for 10 and Dean Cosker dismissed James Middlebrook in his first over the morning when he was caught at cover by Petersen. After lunch, Graham Wagg dismissed Chaminda Vaas before Paul Best struck a six to bring about the declaration.

Glamorgan made a terrible start in the second innings when Gareth Rees was trapped lbw by David Lucas with the 10th ball of the innings. Petersen and Bragg then went on the offensive. Bragg especially took a liking to the medium-pace of Hall and struck him for three successive fours.

Dismissed for a duck in the first innings, Bragg this time brought up his 50 in 61 balls with 11 fours just before tea as the pair reached their 100 partnership for the second wicket. Petersen went to his half-century from 70 balls with nine fours and looked well set for a century until he was adjudged leg before attempting to sweep Best, the slow left-armer. It was the fifth time in six innings the South African had been out lbw.

Bragg seemed to get bogged down after Petersen's departure and became the third batsman to be dismissed leg before, this time by off-spinner Middlebrook.