Croft leads Glamorgan fightback against Northants

Robert Croft, with 5 for 93 saw Glamorgan claim maximum bowling points on the opening day of their Championship match against Northants at Cardiff, as the visitors collapsed during the afternoon session and lost seven wickets for 155 runs before being dismissed after tea for 319.

Northants rather squandered the promising start that they had made during the morning session, having reached 142/1 after Mike Hussey and Tim Roberts had added 95 runs in a breezy opening stand before Roberts was caught behind by Mark Wallace off Alex Wharf.

The game then completely changed complexion after lunch, and largely because of a fine spell of off-spin by Robert Croft, who had not been named in England`s party for the winter tour to Bangladesh announced shortly before the interval.

Croft was one of three spinners put on stand-by for the Sri Lankan tour by the England selectors, and during the afternoon session, he led the Welsh county`s fightback by putting the brake on Northants progress, as they slipped to 279/8 by tea.

To the delight of his many supporters, who had been surprised by his omission from the Bangladesh tour party, Croft also became the leading English-qualified spinner in Championship cricket by taking four wickets in the post-lunch session.

Croft began by trapping Phil Jacques and David Sales leg before, before having Jeff Cook well caught by Jimmy Maher. But the off-spinner could not dislodge Mike Hussey, the Northants captain, who recorded his fifth consecutive Championship hundred, and held his team together as wickets fell to the accurate Croft.

Michael Kasprowicz also made inroads shortly before the interval removing Tobin Bailey and Graeme Swann in successive balls, before Croft claimed his third l.b.w. as Mike Cawdron departed for 5. After tea, Kasprowicz bowled Andre Nel, and then after a merry last wicket stand with Jason Brown, Hussey was finally bowled by Croft for 147 to give the Glamorgan captain his fifth wicket, and to take his summer`s tally to 60 victims.

Bad light interrupted Glamorgan`s reply on three occasions, but they ended play on 20/0 and will begin tomorrow`s play 299 runs behind with all ten wickets in hand, eager to pick up further bonus points in their quest for promotion into Division One.