Glamorgan in strong position

Steve James (62) pointed the way as Glamorgan strengthened their position against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road. Captain while Matthew Maynard was playing for England at The Oval, James hit eight fours in taking the visitors to 223-9, a lead of 290 runs with two days still to play.

Adrian Dale (53) complemented his bowling success with a fifty from the bat. Not that it was all easy: off-spinners Jason Brown and Graeme Swann shared five wickets in 12 overs. On a day in which there had been four breaks for showers Northamptonshire were bowled out for 167. They had started at 85-7 overnight but progressed through a persistent 79 runs eighth-wicket partnership between David Ripley (44) and Darren Cousins (29 n.o.).

Wicketkeeper Adrian Shaw broke the 150 minutes stand by catching Ripley down the leg-side from Wharf's bowling. Brown was l.b.w to the next ball but Devon Malcolm prevented him from repeating Emrys Davies' feat of making a century and taking a hat-trick in the corresponding fixture in 1937. Wharf had the last word by catching Malcolm, running back from mid-in, from Cosker's bowling.

James and Matthew Elliott prospered from some untidy bowling in putting on 72 runs for the first wicket. Tony Penberthy gave the home team a fighting chance by dismissing Elliott, Michael Powell and James.