Powell scores 146 on the first day against Yorkshire

An assertive 146 by Michael Powell put Glamorgan into a promising position on the opening day of their Championship match with Yorkshire at Colwyn Bay. The Welsh county ended the day on 380/7 after Robert Croft had chosen to take first use of a wicket that is expected to help the spinners as the match progresses.

Glamorgan entered this match with their sixth opening partnership of the season, after promoting wicket-keeper Mark Wallace to open with Jimmy Maher. The pair then raced to 82 in 14 overs, with both batsmen driving freely, especially against Steve Kirby whose opening spell of nine overs from the Embankment End yelded 64 runs.

But it was Kirby who made the breakthrough, trapping Wallace leg before for 31, and Chris Silverwood soon made it 85-2 as he also gained a leg before decision against Adrian Dale. However, Maher continued to pierce the field with some fluent strokes, reaching his half-century from 68 balls with 10 fours, before driving at Chris Silverwood and giving a catch to Stephen Fleming at first slip.

At lunch with the score on 145-3, honours were about even, but during the afternoon session, some forthright strokeplay from Powell saw Glamorgan gain the upper hand. He shared two productive partnerships, firstly adding 62 with Matthew Maynard, before the 37 year old batsman edged a ball to the wicket-keeper as he attempted a square cut.

Powell then added 118 in 28 overs with David Hemp, duing which Powell reached his half-century with a fine cover drive off Darren Gough - his 8th four - after facing 107 balls. He then raced to his third Championship hundred of the season, with his second fifty came from just 41 balls, as he played a series of attractive drives, mainly in an arc between mid-wicket to mid-off.

At first David Hemp was quite happy to play second fiddle, but shortly before tea, the left-hander hit Richard Dawson for consecutive boundaries, before cover driving Kirby for another elegant four. However, the Yorkshire fast bowler soon gained his revenge as Hemp shouldered arms and lost his off stump. Robert Croft soon followed after tea, but Powell kept the scoreboard ticking over and was in sight of his second 150 on the Rhos-on-Sea ground when he tried to hit Yuvraj Singh back over the top and holed out to long off. Powell`s 146 was a season`s best and came from 216 balls, with 22 fours and one six.

With the score on 332/7, Yorkshire opted to take the new ball, but some furious blows by Alex Wharf and Michael Kasprowicz saw 48 runs being added in 5 overs, before bad light sent the players to the pavilion with 9 overs remaining.