Glamorgan lose against Northants, but only after a valiant last wicket stand

For a while this afternoon at Sophia Gardens, it looked as if Glamorgan might pull off a remarkable and record-breaking victory against Northamptonshire. Chasing a target of 382 - a total the like of which they had never in their history - the Welsh side had slumped to 283/9 when last man Dean Cosker joined David Hemp at the crease.

The two calmly kept the Cardiff scoreboard ticking over, with Hemp playing the innings of his life, and Cosker, belying his position as Glamorgan`s number 11, unfurling some deft strokes against the Northants spinners. With Hemp also playing some assured strokes, the pair added 50 without too many alarms, and as in the run chase at Worcester a month ago, Glamorgan`s tenth wicket pair took their side closer and closer to their target.

But after spending almost an hour and three-quarters at the crease, Cosker`s brave resistance ended as he was trapped leg before by Jason Brown, leaving David Hemp unbeaten on 85 and Glamorgan 21 runs short of their target.

Earlier in the day, Matthew Maynard made 78 to launch the Glamorgan fight-back against an attack missing paceman Andre Nel who was sidelined by injury. After Maynard had been caught and bowled by Graeme Swann, Robert Croft gave David Hemp valiant support, scoring 31 before being one of four victims for Jeff Cook, as Mike Hussey turned to the medium-pacer in an attempt to break Glamorgan`s resistance.

It did the trick as Glamorgan slumped from 271-5 to 283-9 as four wickets fell for the addition of just 12 runs, with Cook taking all four. This only heralded the start of Hemp and Cosker`s last wicket stand which almost reached heroic proportions.