Only Brown rises above the surface

HENRY BLOFELD

reports from Cardiff

Glamorgan 122 Warwickshire 169-7

This was not a good pitch for a four-day game. It was too dry and bare and after the seam bowlers, especially Tim Munton, has caused havoc in the morning, the spinners had their chance later when it turned too much for the first day.

It was not as bad a pitch as a tally of 17 wickets in the day makes it appear, although according to present legislation, with more than 15 falling the Test and County Cricket Board will automatically take note. But there were plenty of poor strokes, the edges flew to the fielders and stuck, and no wicket fell to a ball which behaved outrageously.

If the idea behind the pitch was to stifle the pace of Allan Donald, the atmosphere succeeded in turning Munton into the main threat. Donald took the first wicket of all when Stephen James was lbw trying to work him to leg. Then, in quick succession, Munton picked up the next five.

Hugh Morris drove straight to mid-off; David Hemp pushed defensively and was caught by Dermot Reeve low to his left at first slip; Tony Cottey edged one that lifted to third slip; Adrian Dale was caught at second slip off a similar ball; and Matthew Maynard, after one lovely pull, played half forward and was lbw.

When Robert Croft drove Reeve to extra cover it was 26 for 7, before a mixture of flair and impudence from Hamesh Anthony saw to it that no low scoring records were broken. Driving and pulling, he hit one six and five fours, adding 66 with Neil Kend- rick before being bowled, slogging at the left-arm spinner Ashley Giles in the over before lunch.

The last two Glamorgan wicket soon fell afterwards and it was then Warwickshire's turn to struggle. Nick Knight drove at a wide one and was well caught in the gully by James, Roger Twose was bowled through the gate playing forward to Anthony and, at 34, Dominic Ostler was caught behind, also forward to Anthony.

Doug Brown now joined Trevor Penney and played wonderfully in reaching the day's only fifty. A tall man, he drives powerfully off both feet with a good timing and excellent judgement of the length of the ball.

He and Penney added 50 before Penney played forward to Steve Watkins and was caught behind. Soon after reaching his fifty, Brown was brilliantly thrown out by Maynard from short fine leg.