Ricardo Vasconcelos stars but tedium reigns in record-breaking run-feast

There have already been five centuries and 1092 runs scored for the loss of only eight wickets on this bland Sophia Gardens pitch, and unless there is an agreement reached between the two captains or the strip deteriorates rapidly, then there is little hope of a positive outcome on the final day.

While the batsmen have thrived and filled their boots with some early season runs, the bowlers will surely feel there should be some balance between bat and ball and would have expected some assistance.

The proponents of three-day Championship cricket would also have had their opinions justified as, by now, there would have been a couple of declarations and the spectators might have been looking forward to a a potentially thrilling final day. Instead, Northants are 522 for 4, with Rob Keogh on 73 and Adam Rossington 32.

The visitors started the day on 234 without loss with Ricardo Vasconcelos and Rob Newton taking their record-breaking opening partnership against Glamorgan to 303 before Newton was caught behind for 105. Alex Wakely joined the left-handed opener, but he departed soon after lunch, wafting at one from Graham Wagg to give Cooke his second catch.

Vasconcelos had been at the crease for six hours 44 minutes, facing 317 balls, hitting a six and 22 fours before he was lbw for 184, playing half forward to Marnus Labuschagne's leg spin. It was a career-best innings for the South African, surpassing the 140 he scored against Middlesex last year.

He did, however, offer four chances during his innings, the first when he was dropped at slip on 21 off Marchant De Lange, and the last when two Glamorgan fielders almost collided going for the catch at long off.

Josh Cobb alternated between attack and watchful defence, striking a breezy 60 before he attempted to hit Billy Root's offspin over mid-wicket, but instead sliced to cover point, to give Root his first wicket for his new county.

Keogh then reached a sketchy half-century and was joined by Rossington who survived a huge appeal for caught behind off Michael Hogan, and although the umpire remained unmoved, the batsman appeared to give the game away by initially taking two steps towards the pavilion.

Glamorgan used their ninth bowler when Kiran Carlson was summoned to bowl his gentle offbreaks, but the Northants fifth-wicket pair took no liberties. As they took their side past 500, the few spectators that were left in the ground made their way home.