Wright gives Glamorgan hope
Report of day three from Cardiff
21-Apr-2012
Ben Wright scored a century to give Glamorgan a chance of securing a first victory of the season going into the last day against Hampshire at Cardiff. But Hampshire also have their own ambitions of winning. They will resume the fourth day on 112 for 4 needing another 92 runs.
That was after Glamorgan made 256 in their second innings with Wright making 104 and Stewart Walters supplying a half-century.
The start of the third day was held up for an hour because of torrential rain and hail, with play resuming at noon with Glamorgan on 73 for 3, a slender lead of 20. Walters and Wright continued where they left off yesterday evening, going on to put on a 100-run partnership - the first of Glamorgan's season.
Glamorgan reached lunch at 143 for 3 with the fourth-wicket pair building their lead to 90 with Walters going to his half-century from 125 balls - the first by a Glamorgan batsman this season. But he was out 11 balls later edging a drive off Sean Ervine behind. Despite the loss of Walters, Wright also went to his 50 from 87 balls.
Glamorgan reached 200 in an innings at the sixth time of asking before Jim Allenby was caught by wicket-keeper Michael Bates standing up to Hamza Riazuddin. That was the first of four wickets to fall in the space of six overs. Moises Henriques was bowled by Riazuddin who struck again as Mark Wallace was caught by James Vince at backward point, before Graham Wagg chipped the bowler to mid-on as Glamorgan slipped to 237 for 8.
Despite the clatter of wickets Wright kept his cool to register the fifth century of his first-class career - Glamorgan's first hundred against Hampshire for eight years. He reached the landmark with his 13th four in 150 balls. Wright's vigil ended when Vince took a sharp catch at leg slip off Danny Briggs and David Balcombe ended the Glamorgan innings when he yorked Dean Cosker.
Tea was taken with Hampshire set a victory target of 204 and 41 overs in the final session.
Wagg struck with the final ball of the first over when Hampshire captain Jimmy Adams edged to Wallace, and the left-arm seamer broke through again trapping Liam Dawson lbw.
Simon Katich, the first batsman to score a Test century at Cardiff, in the 2009 Ashes Test, and James Vince consolidated as they put on 41 for the third wicket. Katich survived a loud appeal for leg before off Jim Allenby but there was no such reprieve in Allenby's next over.
Sean Ervine and Vince showed positive intent with the latter pulling Henriques for six, but the Ervine gained his revenge two balls later trapping Vince lbw for 28. Ervine was joined by Michael Bates as they shared a fifth-wicket stand of 44 before play was abandoned for bad light with 13 overs left.
