Worcestershire lead Glamorgan by 201 runs

The wicket at New Road continued to favour the bowlers as a further twelve wickets fell on the second day of the Championship match between Glamorgan and Worcestershire. Worcestershire gained a first innings lead of 81 runs as they dismissed Glamorgan for 156 with Matt Mason taking 3/22 and David Leatherdale 2/18. Then in the final session, the home team extended their lead to 201, but lost four wickets in the process, finishing the day on 120/4.

Morning rain once again prevented any play until 12.10pm, with Glamorgan resuming on 0/2 after their dramatic start last night when they lost Jimmy Maher and night-watchman David Harrison in Nantie Hayward`s opening over. Nevertheless, Ian Thomas and Jonathan Hughes adopted a positive approach, with both of the young batsmen driving powerfully in an arc between cover and mid-on. The pair had added 56 in 15 overs, before Hughes was bowled by Mason with the final delivery of the morning session.

Seven wickets then fell between lunch and tea, as Glamorgan added a further 100 runs. Mason made the early inroads, striking twice during his accurate spell from the New Road End, bowling Michael Powell for a duck, and having Matthew Maynard caught in the slips by Stephen Peters. Thomas continued to pierce the field with some firm strokes, and reached his first Championship half century of the summer, lofting Hayward back over his head, having faced 94 balls and hitting 9 boundaries.

However, the introduction of Leatherdale halted Glamorgan`s progress as the Worcestershire beneficiary had Thomas caught at slip, before trapping Robert Croft leg before on the back foot. Leatherdale might have taken a third wicket had Anurag Singh held onto a top edge from Mark Wallace. But Kabir Ali returned from the Diglis End to dismiss Darren Thomas and Michael Kasprowicz, whilst Gareth Batty had Wallace caught at cover, as Glamorgan`s innings ended with their score on 156.

When Worcestershire batted again, Glamorgan`s seam bowlers also found early assistance as Alex Wharf had Anurag Singh caught at second slip by Jimmy Maher and then two overs later Wharf yorked Graeme Hick. But Peters showed that run scoring was not impossible, and the opener played some well timed cover drives in reaching 50 from 74 balls. Together with his captain Ben Smith, they added 66 for the third wicket, before Peters dragged the ball onto his stumps trying to sweep Croft.

Then in the final over the day, Croft had Vikram Solanki caught at short-leg by Ian Thomas, with Worcestershire 201 runs ahead with 6 wickets in hand.