GLAMORGAN
LIMIT SURREY TO FIVE WICKETS IN THE DAY by Marcus Hook
Glamorgan 377-9 v Surrey 575-7d.
There was a decent-sized Bank Holiday crowd in at
the Swalec Stadium yesterday, many of whom must have arrived
assuming that the home side would be following-on by tea. But
Glamorgan's lower order had different ideas. With the pitch still
favouring the bat, and the Surrey attack lacking a combination of
inspiration and endurance, just five wickets fell in a day that was
trimmed by six overs due to rain. Huw Waters, who had come in as
nightwatchman on Thursday evening, duly recorded a career best 54.
Mark Wallace hit a half-century of his own and Graham Wagg took the
fight to Surrey, making 48 off 53 balls, all of which left the
visitors visibly frustrated.
That Jade Dernbach was the pick of the Surrey
bowlers, despite having to contend with a stomach bug, spoke
volumes. Stuart Meaker was a threat in the morning session, but
withdrew from the action late in the day. As for Yasir Arafat, 57
overs into the season the Pakistan all-rounder is still searching
for his first wicket for the Oval outfit.
In the fifth over of proceedings, Walters cut
Meaker through cover point for four. Two overs later, after
surviving a concerted appeal for leg before, the former Surrey man
drilled the ball straight back past the 22-year-old. In the 49th
over, Walters brought up the fifty partnership for the fifth wicket
with a cut four off Zander de Bruyn. Six overs later, the Australian
flicked Gareth Batty to the fine leg boundary. Walters, on the
drive, eventually fell in the 58th over when he lost his middle
stump to Meaker.
Either side of lunch, Huw Waters suffered blows.
In the 60th over the 24-year-old was struck on the right hand by
Meaker. Five overs later, he was hit on the back of the head by a
bouncer from Dernbach, who was bowling just his third over of the
day on account of his absence from the field the night before. But
Waters carried on, driving Batty for four in the 66th over and
cutting the former England off-spinner to the rope at deep backward
point four overs later.
Following a 75-minute break for rain, during which
tea was taken, Waters went to fifty, from 167 deliveries, by dabbing
Batty down to third man for two. Minutes later, however, Waters was
walking back to pavilion, after Mark Wallace had pushed Chris
Schofield into the off-side and called his partner through for an
optimistic single.
Robert Croft was fortunate to survive a couple of
chances, but Wallace batted superbly. The 29-year-old wicketkeeper
straight drove Meaker for four to bring up 250 for his side and
cover drove Arafat for four in the 89th over. Two overs later,
Wallace reached his half-century, off 83 balls, with a thin edge
between the legs of Steven Davies off Batty for four.
Later in the same over, Batty got one to turn just
enough to catch the outside of Wallace's blade. 277-7 became 281-8
when Croft drove a half-volley straight to cover moments later. But
Graham Wagg's self-confidence put Glamorgan's rearguard back on
track.
In the 98th over, the former Warwickshire and
Derbyshire man despatched a weary-looking Arafat through extra cover
before helping the Pakistani down to the fine leg boundary. Two more
fours from Wagg, in the space of four deliveries, a couple of overs
later left Glamorgan 101 runs short of the follow-on target.
Six overs later, Wagg slog swept Schofield for a
maximum. In the 109th over, James Harris earned his side a third
batting point. Moments later, however, the visitors snuck in another
bowling bonus point when Wagg, looking to paddle sweep, fell leg
before to Schofield.
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