Wallace shines as Glamorgan lose

Glamorgan lost their opening Championship game of the season, going down to a 163 run defeat to Derbyshire, but not before wicket-keeper Mark Wallace had recorded a maiden first-class century.

Wallace, who scored an unbeaten 106, was the second member of the ECB Academy to record a career-best performance during the game. On Friday, it was young pace bowler Simon Jones who claimed best-ever figures of 6-45, and then today, after drizzle had delayed the start of play by an hour, it was the young wicket-keeper who compiled a maiden century - the first for Glamorgan by a specialist keeper in the County Championship since Eifion Jones made 108 against Warwickshire at Swansea back in 1979.

Wallace admitted to having mixed emotions when the game ended shortly after lunch. "I`m delighted to have made my first Championship century, but in the end we lost the game," he said. "The winter in Australia with the E.C.B. Academy has certainly improved my game, and I`ve matured a lot. As far as my batting is concerned, my defence is tighter and I`ve got a greater range of shots."