Glamorgan bat well on day two
Wed 19 Aug 2015
REPORT | By Pete Johnson
After walking back to our hotel from the ground on day one and then walking to the ground on day two, I waited with baited breath to see if Bear Grylls had been added to the squad overnight.
Being a member of Sergeant Major Tennant’s Boot Camp Warriors is not for the faint hearted. I had a ‘warm down’ (cup of tea, minus a regulation fag) upon arrival at the ground following the early morning hike.
Another lovely summer’s day greeted us upon our arrival at the SWALEC, and the view to my left towards the distant hills of Caerphilly was idyllic. The Welsh flag, with the dragon on it was flying proudly on top of the pavilion. Talking of dragons that reminds me, I must ring the wife.
County declared on their overnight score of 320-7. Nick Selman and Scott Thornton opened the innings for Glamorgan against an opening attack of Grant Thornton (Cathedral End), and Archie Ogden (River End).
Selman did not take at all long to settle in, and completely dominated the opening partnership with Scott Thornton. The pair added 51 for the first wicket, of which Selman’s contribution was 47. Scott Thornton (3) went caught at second slip by Tom Cullen from the second ball of Tom Wells’ spell, having replaced Thornton at the Cathedral End.
Josh Hollins replaced Ogden at the River End, and soon had a very confident caught behind appeal against Tom Smith turned down. Selman went to his 50 from 53 balls (12x4). Skipper Jigar Naik was shuffling his bowlers about in an effort to get a breakthrough.
With the score on 99, Selman (78) finally went caught at short mid-on by Eben Kurtz off the bowling of Naik. Glamorgan went into lunch on 149-2 from 34 overs, Smith 43* and Carlson 24*.
This pair then proceeded to give County a gruelling afternoon session, notching up a partnership of 247 for the third wicket. Milestones along the way included: 50 partnership from 61 balls, 100 partnership from 113 balls, 150 partnership from 156 balls, 200 partnership from 193 balls.
Smith’s 50 came up from 72 balls (9x4), and his century from 105 balls (16x4/1x6), Smith going to his century with a pulled maximum over mid wicket off Ogden, much to the dismay of Hilda and Stan. Smith’s 150 came up from 133 balls (21x4/3x6), and immediately afterwards Carlson got his 100 from 110 balls (13x4). Earlier Carlson had posted his 50 from 59 balls (7x4).
Naik turned to Kurtz in an effort to get a wicket, and it paid off when Smith reverse swept Kurtz and was caught on the cover boundary for a magnificent 159. Carlson was joined by Alex Milton who was keen to accelerate the scoring. Glamorgan went into tea on 407-3 from 72 overs.
The onslaught continued after tea until Glamorgan declared on 498-6, a lead of 178. Other wickets to fall Carlson (150), caught by Joe Kendall at cover off the bowling of Will Wright, Alex Milton (44), caught behind by Mike Burgess off Ogden and Joe Murphy (22), caught at long off by Kurtz off the bowling of Ogden, much to the delight of Hilda and Stan. Connor Brown was not out on 22.
A tough day for County’s bowlers, who stuck to the task. Grant Thornton did not pick up a wicket, but saw a number of edges go for four, in addition to having a couple of chances spilled. Josh Hollins was only able to bowl four overs before picking up an injury.
County had 14 overs to negotiate before the close, and Kurtz (10) and Wright (20) stood up to the challenge, taking County to stumps on 34-0.
