Croft century leads Glamorgan rally

An unbeaten 111 Robert Croft allowed Glamorgan to recover from 93-5 to 337-9 at the end of the first day of their County Championship match against Somerset at Cardiff.

The Glamorgan captain added 223 for the seventh, eighth and ninth wickets with Darren Thomas, Michael Kasprowicz and Alex Wharf, with the stand of 104 for the ninth wicket betwween Croft and Wharf being a record for Glamorgan against Somerset, eclipsing the 99 added by John Derrick and Terry Davies at the same ground in 1986.

By the close, Croft had also added a further 30 runs with number 11 David Harrison, and the pair will be eager to press on towards another batting point tomorrow morning. Such riches looked a long way off in the first hour as Glamorgan slumped to 35-3 after having won the toss and electing to bat first with a side containing two overseas players - Maher and Kasprowicz - for the first time in a Championship match since August 1981 when Javed Miandad and Ezra Moseley were in the Glamorgan side.

Jimmy Maher was one of three early victims for spinner Ian Blackwell, who claimed 3-4 in 24 balls. For a while, it looked as if the former England international was going to run through the Glamorgan side. But Croft had other ideas and with resolute support from the lower order, Croft steadfastly rebuilt the innings, and reached his century from 190 balls after over four hours at the crease.

Somerset were subsequently handicapped by injuries to Simon Francis, who left the field with a side strain after bowling just 35 balls, whilst Nixon McLean had a hamstring niggle.