da luck： The Championship match between Glamorgan and Northamptonshire continued to be a realdogfight as Glamorgan after being bowled out for 220 fought back gamely to dismissNorthants for 172 to win by 55 runs with Michael Kasprowicz taking 6-72, including
Andrew Hignell01-Jun-2003The Championship match between Glamorgan and Northamptonshire continued to be a realdogfight as Glamorgan after being bowled out for 220 fought back gamely to dismissNorthants for 172 to win by 55 runs with Michael Kasprowicz taking 6-72, including a spell of 4-39 bowling unchangedfor 14 overs after tea.The Australian`s fine bowling saw the Welsh county to their first Championship win of theseason and they were also indebted to a seasons best 73 from Jonathan Hughes and an unbeaten50 from Robert Croft, who astutely marshalled some tailend resistance, adding 80 forthe last two wickets with Michael Kasprowicz and Alex Wharf. In the end, these proved to bevital runs and with the conditions still helping the bowlers,this left Northants chasing a tricky target of 228.In the opening overs, it looked as if the gods were not smiling on Glamorgan. Firstly DavidHarrison, who had been so impressive on Saturday, was forced out of the attack after damaging afinger as his hand hit the stumps as he ran in to bowl his fourth ball. Then Kasprowicz hadboth of the Northants openers caught in the slips, but each time the big Queenslander hadoverstepped the crease.However, the luck change in Kasprowicz`s next over as he clean bowled Rob White, and then in thefollowing over he dismissed Hussey as the left-hander cut a ball into the hands of Dean Coskerin the gulley. Phil Jacques and Jeff Cook survived a few scares before Croft came on andimmediately had Cook well caught by Powell at first slip. After receiving treatment onhis hand, Harrison returned to the attack and removed David Sales as he attempted to flick one offhis legs.Northants took tea on 102-4, still needing 126 with six wickets in hand, but the gamedecisively changed complexion in then overs after the interval, firstly as Dean Cosker brilliantlyran out Mark Powell as the young batsman tried to scramble a single. Then Jacques who had reachedhis fifty with six fours and a six, edged Kasprowicz to the wicket-keeper Wallace as he attempted a cut .The lion-hearted seamer then claimed two more victims as he trapped Tobin Bailey leg before, andthen forced Carl Greenidge to spoon up a catch to Jonathan Hughes at short-leg. Kasprowicztook his sixth wicket when he clean bowled Ben Phillips, and then David Harrison returned to the attack,and with his very first delivery, he applied the coup de grace as Alex Wharf held onto a steepling catchas Nel holed out at mid-off to give Glamorgan a well deserved victory.Earlier, play had resumed with Glamorgan 78 runs ahead with six second innings wickets inhand. Hughes duly reached his half century of the season after strikingnine boundaries, but shortly afterwards he lost his partner Matthew Maynard whofell to a fine one handed catch by a diving Mark Powell at cover point.Five overs later Glamorgan lost their second wicket of the morning as Mark Wallacewas leg before shouldering arms to Andre Nel. But Hughes continued to playfreely and was two runs short of a career best when he was adjudged leg beforeplaying forward to Carl Greenidge. Only one run had been added when David Harrisonwas stumped as he advanced down the wicket to Jason Brown, to leave Glamorgan on140-8.As in the first innings Robert Croft defended resolutely, but the Glamorgan captainwas not afraid to punish any wayward deliveries. Kasprowicz also lent useful support,and the Australian mixed caution with aggression, striking Brown high over mid-wicketfor six.The pair had added fifty in 14 overs when in the third over after lunch Kasprowiczedged a delivery from Nel to the wicket-keeper, but any thoughts that Northants mayhave had over quickly finishing off the innings were dispelled by Alex Wharfwho flicked Phillips nonchalantly off his legs for a six over square-leg. Croft remainedresolute at the other end and reached a most deserved half century after over two hours at thecrease, glancing Nel for a single. But next ball Wharf edged Nel to Sales at first slip havingadded a valuable 30 for the final wicket with his captain to set up the run chase in the finalinnings.