Glamorgan v Derbyshire - day four report

Mark Wallace's maiden first-class century was not enough to prevent Glamorgan going down to a 163-run defeat on the final day of their Frizzell County Championship Division Two match at home to Derbyshire. Wicket-keeper Wallace struck 106 not out but his efforts ultimately proved in vain as Derbyshire got their campaign off the ground in the best possible fashion.

Left-arm spinner Lian Wharton led their victory charge, recording career-best figures of six for 103 as Glamorgan finished well short of an unlikely victory target of 505.

Derbyshire made the start to the day Dominic Cork would have been wanting when Michael Kasprowicz was bowled playing back to a good length ball by Wharton having added just four runs to his overnight 32. But Wallace, who had started the day unbeaten on 84, maintained steady progress at the other end and brought up his landmark ton in the eighth over of the morning.

Dean Cosker had joined Wallace at the crease and the pair added a useful 28 for the ninth wicket before Cosker was caught by Dominic Hewson at short leg off the bowling of Wharton, who duly claimed only the second five-wicket haul of his first-class career.

Last man Simon Jones provided one last flourish to the Glamorgan innings, striking three defiant sixes in five balls off Wharton. Jones hooked the first ball after lunch over the mid-wicket boundary before thumping the fourth and fifth balls back over the bowler's head either side of the wicket. However, the Derby-born spinner had the last laugh as he wrapped up the innings with the last ball of the over, Steve Stubbings taking the catch at long on that ensured a winning start to the year for Derbyshire.

It was a magnificent effort by Wharton, who took only eight wickets in the 10 championship matches he played last season. Wallace and Kasprowicz had come together on Sunday evening to give Glamorgan a glimmer of hope in a partnership that was eventually worth 85 before it was broken up by Wharton.

The same bowler had also accounted for the Welsh side's skipper Steve James, who had offered stern resistance with a battling 78 before he was given out attempting to sweep, as well as young star Michael Powell and Robert Croft.

Source: Ananova
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