Things Finely Balanced on Green Cardiff Wicket

Michael Bates appeals unsuccessfully for the lbw of Stewart Walters

Match report from day two of Hampshire's LV= County Championship match against Glamorgan at the SWALEC Stadium, Cardiff.

Glamorgan v Hampshire
LV= County Championship
DAY Two: Friday 20 April 2012
SWALEC Stadium, Cardiff

Summary: Glamorgan lead Hampshire by 20 runs
with seven wickets remaining in the first innings
Glamorgan: 103-9d & 73-3 (34 ovs)
Hampshire: 156
Scorecard

Glamorgan:
Rees, Walters, Bragg, James, Wright, Henriques, Allenby, Wallace⁺*, Wagg, Cosker, Waters
Hampshire:
Adams*, Dawson, Carberry, Katich, Vince, Ervine, Bates⁺, Wood, Riazuddin, Briggs, Balcombe

Another rollercoaster day for both sides left things delicately poised at the half-way stage of this intriguing LV= County Championship match between Glamorgan and Hampshire at the SWALEC Stadium.

Having commanded the first day, forcing their hosts into an early declaration on 103-9, Hampshire, themselves, struggled to cope with the moving ball on day two.

Knocks of 32, 27 and 26 from Liam Dawson, Michael Carberry and James Vince respectively helped their side to a total of 156, but the bowling of Huw Waters proved unplayable as he finished with career-best figures of 7-53.

Nevertheless, at the half-way point in the innings, Hampshire had a 53-run lead which looked a decent one on a pitch that is still showing all the signs of the early-season seam-assistance seen all around the country so far this year.

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Click on the image above to see highlights of this day's play

And given 34 overs to attack their hosts, Hampshire hit back with wickets at regular intervals; Sean Ervine (1-6), Hamza Riazuddin (1-18) and David Balcombe (1-29) keeping their lines straight to pick up wickets and break partnerships before they got started.

Wary of sustaining too much damage, Stewart Walters (12*) and Ben Wright (5*) scored eight runs off as many overs to take their team to 72-3 at the close – a lead of 20 in the second innings.

A good start with the ball in the morning should leave Jimmy Adams’ side with what would appear to be an eminently chase-able target under normal circumstances. But, as has already been shown, these aren’t normal circumstances and with rain around the weather could yet still play a part.

Words: Simon Vincent
Images: LMI Photography