Thanks to the remnants of tropical storm Henri and a series of deep Atlantic depressions, 206 out of a potential 288 overs have been lost so far in this contest. Had it not been for this significant loss of time, this could have been a closely fought contest as, based on their efforts either side of lunch yesterday, the Glamorgan attack delivered their best collective spell in Championship cricket for several weeks. After Craig Meschede had made the early incision, acting captain delivered a probing spell, whilst Dewi Penrhyn Jones on his Championship bow also claimed a pair of well-deserved victims.
Some sharp catches were also taking behind the wicket with Chris Cooke pouching two diving efforts, with the only blemish coming at first slip where Michael Hogan dropped a low catch off Meschede. After mopping operations had been completed, play began at 11 a.m., under clear blue skies and plenty of sunshine over the Wantage Road ground, with eight overs lost from the day's quota as Glamorgan looked to continue their good work from yesterday and quickly polish off the Northants batting to secure a full clutch of bowling points.
After Wagg, the acting captain, had completed the interrupted over from last night, Hogan resumed at the Pavilion End and beat the outside edge of David Murphy's bat. Adam Rossington met with better fortune at the other end, twice cover-driving Wagg for four before nurdling him through point as the 150 came up. Rossington, who was already struggling with a stiff back, was then struck a painful blow on the hand by Wagg with his injury necessitating a lengthy stoppage as his damaged digits were strapped up.
He showed no ill effect as next ball he pulled Wagg to mid-wicket to complete a 53-ball fifty. Penrhyn Jones then returned to the attack as Hogan switched ends, and was clipped to fine-leg by Murphy. But the youngster made the breakthrough as Rossington drove uppishly to mid-off where his former colleague from Brymbo CC, and second cousin David Lloyd completed the catch.
179/6 saw Rory Kleinveldt arrive in the middle and he soon put bat to ball, swatting Penrhyn Jones for four through the covers. Murphy also pulled Penrhyn Jones for four as Northants secured their first batting point as the total reached 200, but next over Hogan re-arranged Kleinveldt's stumps as Olly Stone came in to join Murphy for the closing overs of the session.
Northants resumed after lunch on 209/7 with Andrew Salter and Craig Meschede sharing the bowling duties as Glamorgan sought their final bowling point. Olly Stone leg-glanced Meschede for four whilst Stone despatched Salter for four through the covers. But later in the over, the off-spinner claimed the eighth wicket as Jeremy Lawlor, fielding as substitute at leg-slip held onto the edge.
237/8 nearly became 238/9 but Aneurin Donald at third slip could only parry a sharp chance offered by Mohammad Azharullah after Meschede had found the edge of the Pakistani's bat. Wagg then replaced Meschede with Azharullah also scything him over the slip cordon for four, before drilling him through mid-off as the acting captain bowled to a field which included a fly slip. The Pakistani though managed to spear a ball wide of Salter who was stationed in the unorthodox position, but in Wagg's next over - and with the total on 266/8 - he edged a rising delivery into Cooke's gloves.
Murphy completed his fifty by guiding Wagg through the gully for four, but the acting captain polished off the innings as Richard Gleeson edged into the slips where James Kettleborough took a smart catch with Northants 278 all out. With a first innings deficit of 45 runs, Kettleborough was joined by Salter as the Glamorgan second innings began with just an hour and three-quarters of playing time remaining.
Kettleborough glanced Kleinveldt to square-leg whilst Salter cut Azharullah for four. Kettleborough also cover drove Kleinveldt for four but the Springbok next over took a smart catch at slip as Salter edged Azharullah. With his side on 20/1, Colin Ingram joined Kettleborough and he opened his account by glancing Azharullah to fine-leg for four, before doing the same to Richard Gleeson. But the young seamer responded with the total on 32 by having Kettleborough caught behind.
Glamorgan resumed after tea on 34/2 but with just an hour's playing time until the option of the last sixteen overs, the game meandered quietly towards a draw. Richard Gleeson resumed the bowling at the Pavilion End whilst Rob Keogh's off-spin was employed at the Lyn Wilson End. There was time though for Gleeson to claim another first-class wicket as the triallist from Cumberland trapped Ingram leg before.
But there were no more alarms in the next half-hour as Donald lofted Keogh for six before drilling him to long-off for four, whilst Chris Cooke clipped Keogh to square-leg for four. Donald also cover drove Gleeson for four as well as pulling him to backward square-leg for another well-timed boundary. Josh Cobb also had a brief trundle with the spinner switching to seam-up before one of Northamptonshire's very occasional bowlers turned his arm over with Adam Rossington delivering the final over as a game ravaged by the weather somewhat ironically ended in glorious sunshine at 4.20pm as Glamorgan declared on 99/3.
