A season’s best 87 by Craig Meschede who shared a stand of 108 for the seventh wicket with Tom Cullen (42) saw Glamorgan to 294 on the first day of their match with Sussex after the Welsh county had been put in to bat in the annual Specsavers County Championship match at Colwyn Bay. By the close, Sussex were 79-3 in reply.
Close of Play Report
Glamorgan began the evening session on 240/6 with Meschede unbeaten on 69 with his partner Tom Cullen striking the first two boundaries of the session as he on-drove Ollie Robinson followed by a deft steer to third man to also bring up the 100-stand in 22 overs. But with the total on 256, their stand came to an end as Jordan trapped Cullen l.b.w. Meschede then pulled Robinson for four but in his next over Jordan struck again as Ruaidhri Smith chopped a ball onto his stumps.
But the runs continued to flow as Lukas Carey began by pulling Jordan for four and then cover-driving him for another boundary, whilst Meschede nonchalantly drilled Jordan to the ropes at long-on. However, with the total on 283 Carey swatted Robinson to Luke Wells at backward square-leg. Meschede then pulled Jordan for a huge six before Michael Hogan square-drove Jordan for four, but Robinson ended the innings as he yorked Meschede for 87 with Glamorgan ending on 294.
With 18 overs remaining in the days quota, Angus Robson began with a pair of fours in the opening over from Carey, before Wells did the same against Hogan, although the first bisected first and second slip and sped away to third man. His next pair of boundaries were more authentic though as he straight-drove Hogan with Robson also striking a pair of flowing drives as Sussex reached the fifty mark in the ninth over, before Carey bowled Wells.
Stiaan van Zyl began by off-driving Carey but with the total on 57 he edged Meschede into Cullen’s gloves as Briggs joined Robson as Sussex’s night-watchman. Robson responded with a brace of fours as Smith entered the attack in the final quarter of an hour in tandem with Meschede. But Briggs departed l.b.w. to Smith in the penultimate over of the day as the visitors ended on 79-3
Teatime Report
Resuming after lunch on 114-4, Selman completed his half-century from 101 balls before Salter cover drove Jordan for four. But with the total on 132, Salter sparred at a short ball from Robinson and Nash at second slip completed the catch. Craig Meschede began with a series of singles but with the total on 148, Selman was bowled by Jordan for 58.
After pushing a single and a two, Tom Cullen scored a six, albeit courtesy of four overthrows after the young wicket-keeper had completed a second run. Meschede then pulled a couple of deliveries from Archer for four before Cullen on-drove him for four. Meschede then drilled Danny Briggs to long-off for four when the left-arm spinner had a spell in mid-afternoon at the Penrhyn Avenue End.
The all-rounder then brought up the 200 and saw Glamorgan collect their first batting point by depositing Briggs for six into the front garden of a house on the far side of Penrhyn Avenue. He then late cut Wiese for four before completing his half-century from 65 balls with a languid on-drive against the seamer before celebrating by straight-driving Briggs for another six. He then finished the session by cover driving van Zyl for four
Lunchtime Report
Having beaten the Foxes last week, and meeting the Bears this coming Saturday, it is now the Sharks who are the focus of attention for Glamorgan as Sussex visit North Wales with the Welsh county giving a break to some of their old warhorses and giving opportunities to a number of young colts. Indeed, with Finals Day looming at Edgbaston on Saturday, and with an eye to the future, Jack Murphy makes his Championship debut, whilst Kiran Carlson, Ruaidhri Smith, Craig Meschede and Tom Cullen return to first-class action.
Owen Morgan also had an opportunity to open with Nick Selman after Sussex opted to bowl first, as they did on their last visit to the ground in 2000 when Glamorgan amassed 718/3. On that day Steve James struck a triple hundred and the former opening batsman, famed for his deft nurdles, would have approved as Selman began by guiding Jofra Archer to third man for a pair of fours.
But with the total on 15, Owen Morgan became Jofra Archer’s 50th wicket of the season as he departed l.b.w. 15/1 then became 15/2 as Murphy edged the opening bowler to second slip. Aneurin Donald then got off the mark with an inside-edge for four to fine-leg, but next over Ollie Robinson replaced David Wiese at the Penrhyn Avenue End and struck with his second delivery as Donald edged into Ben Brown’s gloves.
Kiran Carlson began by clipping Archer for successive fours to square-leg and mid-wicket before Selman on-drove Robinson to the ropes. Carlson then greeted Chris Jordan by cover-driving him for four before also guiding him to the ropes at third man. Selman also recovered from a blow to his knee by cover-driving Robinson for four. The boundaries continued as Carlson firmly cut Archer through point for four before the youngster cover-drove Jordan for four.
Selman greeted the return of Wiese by clipping successive balls to the boards at mid-on and mid-wicket, but with the total on 96 Carlson was trapped leg before by Archer as Andrew Salter made his way to the middle shortly before lunch. Later that over, Selman brought up the hundred with another cover driven four. He then on-drove Wiese for another boundary to reach 49* at the interval.