MATCH REPORT: Green six-wicket haul puts Lancs in strong position
Today's match report presented by C&C Insurance Brokers
Chris Green followed his career-best batting performance from last week with career-best bowling to date of 6-82 as Glamorgan battled through the opening day of this Rothesay County Championship promotion clash to reach 260-8 by stumps with Kiran Carlson the mainstay of their innings making 77.
In the battle between the second and fourth placed teams in the Second Division, Glamorgan looked to be in a good position at 192-3 by tea with Carlson having just reached his half century from 90 balls and forging a promising partnership with Colin Ingram.
But Green produced a devasting 35-ball spell of 3-12 after the break to swing the day back in Lancashire’s favour.
Having won the toss, Glamorgan openers Zain ul Hassan and Asa Tribe made slow progress in the face of some searching deliveries from James Anderson, Tom Bailey and George Balderson during the early exchanges.
But Lancashire were unable to find a way through and ul Hassan and Tribe made their way steadily through the session with their partnership worth 76 when Green, brought on as early as the 18th over, found an edge off ul Hassan playing forward defensively on 31 that was snapped up by wicketkeeper Phil Salt.
Green was finding sufficient turn to provide a constant threat from the end named after his captain and he struck again twice soon after lunch.
Sam Northeast, returning to the Glamorgan side after missing last week’s victory over Kent, played back to be lbw for 10 while Tribe, who had batted so nicely in reaching his fifty from 87 balls, slog/swept Green straight into the waiting hands of Bailey at deep square leg for 61 to leave the visitors on 113-3.
Carlson and Colin Ingram rebuilt with a positive counter attacking partnership of 86 to reach tea on 192-3, although Carlson on 37 survived a difficult chance when clipping Green fiercely to short leg where Keaton Jennings got his hands to the ball but couldn’t hang on.
Once again, wickets fell in quick succession after the interval, but this time Glamorgan were dealt a serious blow losing four wickets for 30 with Green the chief instigator.
The Australian all-rounder trapped Ingram lbw for 33 before Bailey removed Ben Kelleway’s off stump for a seven-ball duck. Green then added two more, including the big wicket of Carlson - drawn forward with Luke Wells catching the resultant edge at slip - and Chris Cooke stumped by the proverbial mile by Salt for 5 to have Glamorgan 229-7.
Mason Crane and James Harris added 25 runs before the latter was bowled by Tom Hartley for 11 leaving Crane (9 not out) and Ned Leonard (4 not out) to return to the crease tomorrow morning.
Chris Green was naturally delighted by how the first day of the match turned out.
“I thought it was really well stuck at by all bowlers,” he said.
“I think early on we were very unlucky. We beat the bat a lot with Anderson, Bailey and Balderson.
“We could have had a few wickets there, and we spoke about it at lunch and even at tea, just to try and outlast them for as long as possible, and the game could turn and happen quickly.
“So, to take wickets in groups there and have them eight down overnight, I think we're in a great position and have controlled the scoreboard really well as well.
“It was much the plan just to try and put balls in the right areas. And fortunately for me, it was my day and I enjoyed bowling out there.
“The way the wicket looked early, I thought the seamers would do a job, but obviously we've only got three seamers, so between Tommy and myself, we knew we had a role to play. And fortunately for us, there was enough there in the wicket to ask enough questions and get rewarded when we were asking those questions the right way.
“I think the way the wickets have been, it's been a dry summer. So I think naturally, while the ball is hard, with both seam and pace making best use of that in that first 30 to 40 over period, you see once you get through on these dry surfaces, the 40, 50 overs, it does get easier to bat as the ball goes softer.
“And then hopefully you've taken enough wickets to make inroads with that second new ball, which we were able to do as well. So, yeah, I think it's an interesting debate, but I'm enjoying the role I'm playing so far.
“I think there's enough there for seamers, enough there for spinners. And I think credit to the two guys for them. If you bat well, you can get rewarded and score some runs.
“And I think that's our job. We can have two or three blokes go big when it's our turn to bat, then I think we set this game up nicely.”
“I think the way we've been playing our cricket, or certainly since I've been here, the three games we've played, that close draw at Blackpool, where we were inches away from a victory and then it got tough work, and then the last two wins we've had, there's a nice little roll on to coincide with the T20 form that we had in finishing top spot as well. So there's a great vibe in the dressing room.
“When I got here, there was a great vibe in the dressing room and there's a lot of confidence in there. There's a lot of enjoyment happening and I think it sets it up nicely for the back end of the season and the next three days.”
Ken Grime
Photos: Luke Adams & Dan Adams
