Glamorgan take firm control against Derbyshire

Glamorgan took a strong grip on the LV County Championship Division Two match against Derbyshire at Chesterfield despite another four wicket haul from England fast bowling hopeful Mark Footitt.

National Selector James Whitaker was at Queen’s Park for the second day running to watch the left-arm paceman but it was Glamorgan’s batsmen who caught the eye as they scored more than 66% of their 410 for 9 declared in boundaries with former Derbyshire all-rounder Graham Wagg scoring 62 from 64 balls.

Wagg was one of four Glamorgan batsmen to pass 50 but Derbyshire responded well to reach 122 for 2 at the close, 288 runs behind with Billy Godleman unbeaten on 49 from 119 balls.

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Derbyshire needed a response after bowling poorly on the first evening but Colin Ingram was the only wicket to fall in a morning session reduced to 45 minutes by rain.

The South African looked set for his maiden championship century for Glamorgan until he tried to cut Footitt for his 20th boundary but carved the ball into the hands of deep backward point.

Craig Meschede passed 50 in the championship for the fourth time this season and Derbyshire added to their problems when they dropped catches off consecutive balls.

Shiv Thakor spilled a return chance when Meschede was on 60 and Godleman failed to hold on when Wagg edged Footitt to third slip when he had scored only seven.

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Dropping a player who had scored a double century and 94 in his previous two championship games was always likely to prove costly and Wagg duly enjoyed himself against, driving Wes Durston’s off-spin for successive sixes to reach 50 from 62 balls.

Tom Taylor defeated another drive to uproot his off stump but Wagg and Lloyd had put on 87 in only 14 overs and Glamorgan continued to prosper from too many ‘four’ balls to the extent that maximum batting points arrived in the 78th over.

The declaration came nine balls after tea leaving Derbyshire with 40 overs to negotiate before the close and Godleman and Hamish Rutherford looked comfortable until a run out lifted Glamorgan.

Godleman turned the ball into the leg side and called Rutherford through for a single but Ruaidhri Smith swooped on the ball in his follow through and hit the stumps with the New Zealander short of his ground.

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When Chesney Hughes played across one in Smith’s next over, Derbyshire were wobbling but skipper Wayne Madsen survived a dropped catch on 17 to help steer his side to within 139 runs of the follow-on target of 261 although Glamorgan are well placed to push for what would be a record fifth consecutive championship victory.

Wagg said: “I think we are still on top, unfortunately we put down a chance tonight and there is a lot of work to be done but there’s a lot still in the wicket so if we put the ball in the right areas we should pick up some wickets in the morning.”

Rutherford said: “The first hour is key tomorrow and if we can get through the first 30 overs and only lose one that would be ideal to get back into it

the game.”