By Edward Hall
June 28 2002

Despite a valiant century from Steve James, Glamorgan look to be heading to defeat against a determined Middlesex side. Glamorgan closed the day on 301 for 5, following on and still 97 short of making Middlesex bat again. Following the completion of a double hundread by Abdur Razzaq and a century by Ed Joyce on the second day of this match, Middlesex had the time to sit back and let their two spinners, Phil Tufnell and Paul Weekes bowl long spells to try and dislodge the Glamorgan batsmen on a pitch of increasing turn. Though only James (40) and Maynard (66) offered much resistance in the first innings, the second effort was much better, and with still five wickets in hand going into the final day, Glamorgan are not yet completely out of this game.

Mark Wallace and Robert Croft, the two overnight batsmen, are the key to any batting success tomorrow. The resistance against Tufnell was certainly better today. Where as in the first innings, he picked up 6 wickets in 25 overs, he was made to bowl 31 overs for a solitary wicket in the second innings, but it was the vital one of Maynard for 41. The innings from James was the key to the fight back, and he only departed after having scored 118 from 253 balls. He was given aggressive support from Adrian Dale, after David Hemp failed again as opener. Hemp’s form is the major worry of the batting, and it cannot now be long that he is slipped down the order. His failure put more pressure on his captain and opening partner, but James responded well until he was undone by Razzaq, who was only brought on after Tufnell and Weekes had not run through the side.