Glamorgan Head Third Despite Rain

After Glamorgan’s second innings closed on the fourth morning at 259 all out, Colin Ingram scoring 101 and Ethan Bamber taking 5 for 48, Warwickshire faced a victory target of 367 in a minimum of 75 overs.

An intriguing finish beckoned with all results possible when Warwickshire reached 100 for 2 with 46 overs left. But then the rain, which had already stripped the match of 44 overs lost on first three days, returned.

It was a frustrating end to an excellent, fluctuating match, though both sides will be happy enough with a solid points haul from a draw which keeps them well-placed in the Division One table.

Glamorgan resumed on the final morning on 192 for 5, already 300 ahead, with an intriguing decision to make about how much longer to occupy the crease. Their strategy appeared to be simply to bat normally and see what happened - there was certainly no attempt to score quickly.

Bamber completed his five-for when Chris Cooke edged to Rob Yates at second slip. Ingram completed his 28th first class century then fell lbw to Jordan Thompson who quickly added the wicket of Mason Crane, caught behind. When Nathan Gilchrist took out the last two, Tom Norton driving to cover and Ryan Hadley skying a slog, a desultory 80-minuute session had brought Glamorgan 67 runs for the last five wickets.

Glamorgan’s opening bowlers, particularly Timm van der Gugten then bowled well without luck as Warwickshire openers Davies and Yates posted a careful 50 in 16 overs. Their stand reached 72 before Davies was lbw to a ball from Zain-ul-Hassan that kept low.

Hadley added the wicket of Dan Mousley, who was smartly caught by diving wicketkeeper Cooke off an inside-edge, but almost immediately the rain returned for the final and decisive time.

Glamorgan head coach Richard Dawson said: "The weather came in today so we came up short but it was a good four days. Both sides played really well and to come away with 14 points and to be where we are after the first block of championship games is really pleasing.

"Colin's century in the second innings allowed us to get a total on the board and then we wanted to really attack with the ball.

"I'm really pleased about how we have gone about our cricket this season. We have gone away to some very established First Division teams and the lads have acquitted themselves really well. I've just said to the boys now let's take that self-belief into the T20 competition."