Harris strikes put Glamorgan on top
Glamorgan remain on course to achieve a third County Championship victory of the season after James Harris took three of Northamptonshire's second-innings wickets on the third day at the Swalec Stadium
12-May-2010
Glamorgan remain on course to achieve a third County Championship victory
of the season after James Harris took three of Northamptonshire's second-innings
wickets on the third day at the Swalec Stadium.
Northants finished the day on 126 for 4 - still trailing Glamorgan by 71 runs. That was after the home side were dismissed for 450 having accumulated a 197-run advantage on first innings, the only blemish for Glamorgan being their failure to register maximum batting points.
And when Northants batted again, Harris broke through to finish with three for
43 from 15 overs. Much now depends on David Sales if Northamptonshire are to
have any chance of saving the match on the final day tomorrow.
Resuming the morning on 348 for 5 - a first-innings lead of 95 - Glamorgan
were eager to put more daylight between them and their opponents. Jim Allenby continued his good form by registering his fifth half-century of the summer, although he was dropped on 46 by Andrew Hall at slip and on 47 Stephen Peters at cover before reaching his half-century from 86 balls with six fours.
After missing out on the fifth batting point by five balls, Allenby lost Mark
Wallace who went leg before to Hall leaving Glamorgan 402 for 6. And after a 20-minute rain break Northamptonshire broke through twice more - Hall getting another lbw decision to dismiss Harris before Allenby edged Jack Brooks to David Sales at second slip having made 76 - his highest score of the season.
David Harrison came to the middle in positive mood, striking four boundaries as
Glamorgan went to lunch at 442 for 8. After 21 overs were lopped off the afternoon session because of a 90-minute rain break, Dean Cosker was trapped in front by David Lucas, who polished off the Glamorgan innings when Harrison chopped onto his stumps.
Niall O'Brien and Stephen Peters made a good fist of shortening Glamorgan's
lead as they reached 43 for one after tea, with Harrison particularly
expensive. But his new-ball colleague Harris broke through to have O'Brien caught down the
leg side by Wallace for 33.
Peters looked as if he was going to reach his half-century but, two runs short,
he was caught by Harrison running in from deep square leg after a top-edged
sweep at Cosker.
Northants slipped to 91 for 3 as Harris broke through for a second time to have Mal
Loye caught by Ben Wright at cover point. And his fine spell was complete when he had Rob White leg before, bringing nightwatchman David Lucas to the middle for the final six overs.