Match report provided by the ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay.
DAY THREE
Australian Matt Kuhnemann ripped through Middlesex’s top order either side of lunch as Glamorgan cruised to a ten-wicket victory over Middlesex in the Rothesay County Championship Division Two clash at Sophia Gardens.
The left-arm spinner, available for this match only before heading off to the World Test Championship final next month, ensured he left a lasting impression in Cardiff, returning career-best figures of 6-53.
It's the first time since 2015 the Welsh county have achieved three Championship wins on the bounce and the only time in their history that they have achieved the feat by winning each match inside three days.
The victory propels Glamorgan, temporarily at least, into second place behind leaders Leicestershire and marks a truly remarkable turnaround for Sam Northeast’s men, who, after the opening three fixtures, sat 19 points adrift at the bottom of the table.
With a soggy bank holiday Monday predicted in Cardiff and a first hour utterly dominated by the Middlesex opening pair of Sam Robson and Max Holden it was starting to look like a victory that might slip through the fingers of the home side.
Having been asked to follow-on 228 runs behind the hosts, Middlesex’s Sam Robson appeared to be on a one-man mission to reduce the deficit as he flayed Glamorgan’s attack to all parts during the early exchanges – his first 28 runs came courtesy of boundaries as he raced to a half-century off just 40 balls, which included 10 fours.
In an attempt to gain some control, Glamorgan turned to spin in just the 15th over of the morning. However, when Kuhnemann’s first ball was drilled disdainfully through extra cover for four by Max Holden it appeared little was about to change. However, with the score on 98, Kuhnemann found Holden’s inside edge and Asa Tribe took a sharp catch at short-leg to begin the Middlesex slide.
Robson soon followed, failing to pick a Kuhnemann arm-ball, the former England man was trapped on the crease and had to depart LBW for an entertaining 66 off just 58 balls. When the Aussie bowled Leus du Plooy through the gate, the game had suddenly been broken wide open with Middlesex reduced to 113-3.
As lunch approached, Timm van der Gugten got in on the act for Glamorgan, Luke Hollman edging the Glamorgan paceman into the cordon where Kiran Carlson took a smart, low catch at second slip. It capped an extraordinary end to what was looking like being a rather chastening morning session for Glamorgan, four wickets had fallen for just 17 runs and 98-0 had suddenly become 115-4.
Bright sunshine greeted the players as the afternoon session got underway, however, the upturn in weather failed to bring a change of fortune for Middlesex. Ben Geddes decided attack was the best form of defensive but his expansive drive off Kuhnemann was miscued and Zain ul Hassan took an excellent back-peddling catch at wide mid-off to give the spinner his fourth wicket.
James Harris (2-65) removed Higgins and Gohar to leave the visitors reeling on 160-7 before Kuhnemann had Middlesex keeper Jack Davies caught on the midwicket fence for his fifth wicket of the innings.
At 190-8, Middlesex were facing the prosect of an innings defeat but skipper Toby Roland-Jones refused to go down without a fight, unleashing a series of lofty blows on his way to 57 off just 42 balls with four sixes. He too was caught in the deep by Harris, this time off van der Gugten (2-29) before Kuhnemann dismissed number 11 Dane Paterson to record his maiden six-wicket haul in First-class cricket.
The Middlesex innings closed on 235, meaning Glamorgan required just 8 runs for victory, which they knocked off without any alarms after 2.2 overs.
With attention now turning to The Vitality Blast, both sides will be back in County Championship action on Sunday June 22. Glamorgan visit pace-setters Leicestershire while Middlesex will look to get their promotion push back on track with a trip to bottom side Northamptonshire.
DAY TWO
Glamorgan dominated day two to enforce a Middlesex follow-on overnight, seeking a third consecutive win inside three days.
Andy Gorvin starred with the ball once again for Glamorgan with 4 for 39 including two wickets in two balls to reduce Middlesex to 155 all out, trailing by 228 runs.
Max Holden’s strong seasonal start continued with a top-scoring 42 for the visitors after a number of starts failed to kick-on in favourable bowling conditions. Middlesex batters were relieved of batting for the second time in the same day as a second rain-interruption brought an early close.
Glamorgan returned for a rain-threatened day at 334 for 7 after two exceptional centuries from Sam Northeast and Kiran Carlson on day one. Chris Cooke added some resistance after a slight wobble the previous evening to keep Glamorgan in the hunt for a full batting points display.
A slow start to the morning with gloomy, overcast conditions saw bowlers prevail, as tends to happen in opening sessions at Sophia Gardens. Gorvin found the boundary streakily including twice in one over from Toby Roland-Jones for his 17 and Cooke fell just short of a half-century, Dane Paterson with a first wicket after bowling well on day one, Glamorgan having six overs before lunch.
Former England international Sam Robson couldn’t negotiate the new ball as conditions continued to work in favour of the bowlers, this time it was the hosts’ medium and medium-fast prevailing as was the case all day.
Holden looked at ease either side of lunch continuing his strong start to the season, he was unable to add a fifth score of 50 or more though when Andy Gorvin sparked a two-in-two to grab the game in Glamorgan’s favour.
Luke Hollman and Leus Du Plooy both got off the mark in beautiful left-handed fashion, leaning on a cover drive. However, Hollman’s stay was short, loosely driving a nip-backer from James Harris.
Du Plooy and then former Surrey batter Ben Geddes stuck around albeit to unimpactful contribution; the overcast conditions playing a bit part on Glamorgan’s surge with the ball. Debutant Matt Kuhnemann impressed with varying pace and Glamorgan’s catching remained strong as has been since they found their winning form, the only mishap being a drop from Marnus Labuschagne off Harris who dismissed Geddes later in the same dominant over, Tom Bevan also notably with a stunner to dismiss Jack Davies at square-leg.
With follow-on chances looming, Glamorgan had seven overs to find the final wicket before the day’s end, doing so successfully. The improbable 10th wicket partnership required was too steep for the visitors closing play at an innings end.
DAY ONE
Glamorgan were unable to outweigh Middlesex despite hundreds from Sam Northeast and Kiran Carlson after a balanced day one at Sophia Gardens.
The captain and vice-captain’s 228-run partnership brought the hosts back from a worrying 52 for 3 to 334 for 7 at close after Toby Roland-Jones was dependent as ever for Middlesex with 4 for 73.
Northeast and Carlson both falling within 10 overs for 122 and 109 respectively gave Middlesex a fight back towards the end of the day with the new ball, Ryan Higgins also with 3 for 44.
Middlesex won the toss and elected to bowl on a green surface at Sophia Gardens with uncertainty of how the lush ground would play following the recent rainfall in south Wales for a first time this season.
The visitors got off to a strong start with restrictions on runs initially before the series of plays and misses turned to wickets thanks to the experience and skillset of Middlesex veteran Roland-Jones.
Marnus Labuschagne’s woes were improved on last week’s four runs across two innings but it still didn’t look comfortable. The Australian adding 23, including a gifted four from a bizarre Luke Hollman overthrow on a certain dot ball.
The new pair combining the red and white-ball captains recovered concerns for the hosts. Bowlers were still on top into the second session with Northeast scoring cagily at first against the prominent attack which includes three Test internationals. Higgins’ first over after lunch probing outside the off-stump forcing plays and misses and conservative leaves could’ve warranted him international status too.
As has been the case for this pair this season so far, Carlson eventually got his strokes to come together to increase the scoring rate, with typical Carlson backfoot punches and cuts; taking advantage of the novice Naavya Sharma in his second match. Meanwhile, Northeast churned runs out, ambitious to beat his previous season best of 67 in 11 innings, he led Glamorgan to their first unbroken session partnership of the season.
Going at four an over for the afternoon only allowed continuation for the hosts. A six from the captain to move to 99 and Carlson surviving an edge evading slip’s head off Luke Hollman on 96 before they both passed three figures.
The new ball brought the change in fortune for the visitors in the final 16 overs of the day where momentum then shifted. Carlson, in disbelief to be given out in the 81st over and Tom Bevan shortly following in his first game of the season in place for the absent student, Ben Kellaway.
Higgins was soon in on the action, bringing four wickets for 39 runs and Andy Gorvin required to survive the night with Chris Cooke who never looked phased for his unbeaten 32 overnight.
Both sides will return feeling they ended the day happiest before the expected rain looms for the next three days.
Glamorgan Men
Middlesex Men
