2021-09-04 04:17:53
313, still trailing by 16 runs.
GLAMORGAN 1ST INNINGS: 313 (Balbirnie 97, Lloyd 56; Milnes 4-85, Ahmad 3-98).
There's one over left in the day for Kent to negotiate. I send Michael Hogan in to bowl it, and set an aggressive field. The first five balls are dots, but Daniel Bell-Drummond hits a four from the last ball. Day 3 is set up to be a cracker.
We get off to a flier - Robinson chips one straight back to Neser in the day's third over, Bell-Drummond is out lbw to Hogan, and a dodgy call by Zak Crawley runs out Joe Denly, leaving Kent staggering at 10/3. But Heino Kuhn and Zak Crawley lead a recovery to 79/3, and I am beginning to think we have let our chance slip.
But Hogan and Neser deliver once more. When Crawley slashes to slip off Hogan on 28, it sparks a collapse of 4-17. Kuhn drives wildly at a Hogan delievery and is caught behind. Joe Leaning is caught behind off Neser for 2, Darren Stevens is lbw to Hogan on 6, and when Neser raps Jordan Cox on the pads, appeals, and gets the wicket, it means that Kent are in disarray at 96/8, and glad for the lunch break.
After lunch, Qais Ahmad and Harry Podmore drag the total past 100, but after 34 balls at the crease, Ahmad edges a cut to slip and is out for 4, giving Hogan his 24th first-class five-for, and first of the season. Neser then finds Matt Milnes' edge on nought, and the ball flies to slip, meaning Kent are all out for 105. Glamorgan need just 122 to win, and it's all thanks to two Aussie bowlers.
KENT 2ND INNINGS: 105 (Kuhn 42, Crawley 28; Hogan 5-36, Neser 4-30)
We have just under four and a half sessions to chase down 122. Should be easy, right?
Of course, Joe Cooke goes second over, caught at slip off Milnes for 1. And I've forgotten to move Timm van der Gugten down from three. Good start.
Of course, it's regular batsman Nick Selman who goes next, caught behind off Harry Podmore for a two-ball duck. We are at an uncertain 3/2.
David Lloyd has to put us back on track.
He makes 7 off 32 balls before getting out lbw. Timm van der Gugten, meanwhile, has hit fours in his 24 not out and looks like he's batted at three all his career.
In comes Andrew Balbirnie. If he can't make a big score, I have doubts about whether we will actually win.
At least we only 90 more runs.
At tea, that's down to 82. 40/3.
Van der Gugten, having spent just over an hour and a half at the crease, finally edges one behind and is out for 30 off 80 balls, Qais Ahmad getting the wicket.
Kiran Carlson is in at six.
Soon Ahmad has two wickets. Because Andy Balbirnie has top-edged one into the keeper's gloves. Out for 14, 53/5.
Chris Cooke, your county needs you.
He rises to the challenge. Cooke and Carlson bat responsibly, and dig in with a much-needed half-century stand. By stumps, Glamorgan are 103/5 and need just 14.
It takes us just six overs on day four to secure the win. Cooke finishes on 36 off 102 deliveries, the sort of innings we needed.
This has been a brilliant match, one of the most exciting this season.
GLAMORGAN 2ND INNINGS: 122/5 (C Cooke 36*, van der Gugten 30; Ahmad 2-37, Milnes 2-41
GLAMORGAN WIN BY FIVE WICKETS
This game had it all. Brilliant batting from both teams (at least in the first innings) superlative bowling from Hogan and Neser, and a pitch that offered bounce and turn throughout. Also, Timm van der Gugten batted like he was Brian Lara.
We stay top, seven points clear of Yorkshire. But coming up on both of our heels in third is Lancashire, and they're our next opponents.
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