Reed takes 6/34 as Cardiff MCCU are dismissed for 169

On a day when much of the nation were copiously studying the form lines and breeding of the forty runners in the Grand National at Aintree ( with some also ruminating on the chances of "Opening Batsman" in the race before the world's greatest steeplechase), there were some at the SWALEC Stadium who thought it appropriate that a batsman with an outstanding cricketing pedigree, plus a century already under his belt this season, could take centre-stage as Fabian Cowdrey - the latest member of the Kent cricketing dynasty - resumed his innings having already scored a century last weekend against Devon at Plymouth.

But like many of the fancies at Aintree, the 20 year-old, who is tipped to follow in the footsteps of his grand-father Colin and father Chris, into the Kent side, was one of the early fallers, departing in the third over of the morning as he sparred a short, rising delivery into Mark Wallace's safe gloves. Next ball, the same partnership immediately ended Uzi Qureshi's stay at the crease as he also feathered a lifting ball into the wicket-keeper's gloves.

Andrew Balbirnie survived the hat-trick ball before next over swatting Reed high over gully for four as the youngster who is attached to Middlesex, together with Zac Elkin saw the students past the 50-mark in the 17th over. Balbirnie also off-drove Reed for four but the bowler produced the perfect riposte as next ball he sent the batsman's off-stump cartwheeling out the ground as he shouldered arms.

Sam Davies, the son of former Glamorgan wicket-keeper Kim Davies, then clipped his second delivery for four through mid-wicket before despatching John Glover, whose three previous overs had been maidens, through the covers for another boundary. Huw Waters and Jim Allenby then joined the attack and the former, with the students on 71, he ended Elkin's innings as the opener top-edged a swat against the metronomic seamer as Wallace claimed his third catch.

Adam Miles, the student's captain, announced his arrival at the crease with an off-drive, followed by a delicate leg-glance against Allenby. At the River End, the runs appeared to have dried up at the River End as the frugal Waters delivered twenty consecutive dot balls before yielding three fours in four balls as Davies pulled him to mid-wicket followed by a clip to square-leg, and then two balls later a booming off-drive.

This flurry of runs saw the student's total to 97 but a wicked in-swinger from Allenby then pinned Davies on the pads and the umpire upheld the lbw appeal. Andrew Salter duly took his side into three figures by guiding Allenby through backward point before Dean Cosker returned to the attack shortly before lunch.

Waters and Reed returned to the attack after lunch as wickets started to tumble, just like the prices on the bookies boards for the leading fancies at Aintree. Three overs after lunch, Reed clean bowled Miles, and 113/6 immediately became 113/7 as Phil Harris had the first he didn't want in university colours as he departed leg before to the next delivery. as the tall seamer completed his 'five-for'.

Four balls later it was Waters' turn to make further inroads as Salter edged to Wallace raising the possibility of the students following-on, but the ninth wicket pairing of Matthew Hobden and Jon Denning scrambled the necessary runs with the former also using the long handle against Waters to despatch him for four to the ropes at mid-wicket.

Allenby and Cosker then returned to the attack with the latter also being harpooned for four to mid-wicket by Denning. With Cosker delivering a series of maidens, Glover had a spell at the River End as the tail continued to wag, with their stand being the best for the innings. But on 153, Hobden chipped Glover into Marcus North's hands at short mid-wicket. Denning then used the long handle again against Cosker swatting him to the ropes at square-leg.

The last pair then added another dozen runs as Reed re-appeared at the River End as the new ball was taken in a bid to end the resistance. The ploy paid instant dividends as the tall seamer removed Phillips who lobbed a catch into the grateful hands of Will Bragg at cover.

Their second innings began immediately after the tea interval with Ben Wright opening the batting with Will Bragg, and Wright was quickly off the mark as he crisply drove Denning to the boards at long-off. Bragg also garnered a brace of two's against Matthew Hobden who was more wayward in both line and length than yesterday, and overstepped three times as no balls were called.

Wright greeted Phillips' introduction into the attack by clubbing him through extra cover before deftly guiding Hobden to the vacant third man boundary as the opening pair cantered past the fifty-mark in the twelfth over as shadows started to appear across the outfield under the clear blue skies which had accompanied most of the day's play.

Denning then switched to the River End, whereupon Bragg twice regally straight drove him to the boundary boards as the tempo quickened into something of a gallop with Wright continuing to pepper the boards as, in the space of four balls, he leg-glanced and cover drove Phillips, before next over, Bragg drilled the bowler from Mumbles CC back over his head for another boundary before exquisitely despatching him through extra cover.

The swift pace was maintained as Bragg lofted Denning straight before dabbing him through the vacant gully position before on-driving Hobden to complete a 63-ball fifty. He celebrated by driving the seamer through extra cover for four, before Wright unfurled another sweetly-timed cover drive to bring up the century stand. But their vibrant stand ended as Phil Harris entered the attack, and as in ther first innings, the medium-pacer took a wicket in his opening over as Wright was adjudged leg before.

Harris struck again in his second over as Bragg drove uppishly into cover's hands, leaving Stewart Walters and Marcus North to see Glamorgan safely through to the close without any further alarms.