Glamorgan indebted to Dalrymple

Glamorgan all-rounder Jamie Dalrymple salvaged a draw from the clutches of defeat as Northamptonshire’s promotion charge to LV County Championship Division One stuttered on the final day at Wantage Road.

The 27-year-old scored a match-saving 74 off 189 balls as Glamorgan were bowled out for 238 in the second innings after beginning day four on 28 for one.

Mark Wallace and David Hemp chipped in with 43 and 31 respectively as England spinner Monty Panesar led the way with 4-83 on a turning track.

Set just 38 to win from five overs the Northants batsmen fell 10 runs short after trying one shot too many and gifting Alex Wharf three easy wickets to steal a draw.

Glamorgan began day two with it all to do and started slowly, taking just four runs from the opening seven overs – Richard Grant struggling to get Johan van der Wath’s seaming deliveries away.

However, Hemp paved the way for a Welsh fightback, sending spinner Jason Brown to the fence twice in successive balls in the 17th over as the visitors moved to 40 for one.

Jamie Dalrymple made 74 to hold together the Glamorgan innings at Northamptonshire

Northants continued to attack the vulnerable Glamorgan line-up and their aggression paid off when Andrew Hall forced Grant to edge to wicketkeeper Niall O’Brien for six.

Hemp joined Grant in the pavilion shortly after – England spinner Panesar outclassing the Bermuda international cleaning him up for 31.

Former Middlesex all-rounder Dalrymple and Mike Powell steadied the ship with a 31-run partnership as Glamorgan moved to 95 for three.

But the duo’s reprieve did not last beyond the 40th over when Panesar struck again, trapping Powell lbw for 12 just before lunch.

Dalrymple was made to sweat after the interval with Panesar continuing to pose problems and Wallace endured a nasty time at the crease after being rapped on the hand by Hall.

Dalrymple soon moved to 50 in the 70th over with a single off Panesar before Brown marked his return to action, removing Wallace three overs later.

Panesar picked up where he left off after the interval, dismissing Wharf for a duck after a smart catch from Riki Wessels at short-leg.

Dalrymple moved to 71 with the score at 220 for six but could only watch Robert Croft fall to Panesar before Brown finally ended his charge.

The wheels fell off for the visitors in the 102nd over when van der Wath picked up the scalps of Jason Gillespie and Dean Cosker both for six as they finished on 238.

Northants started their chase recklessly and lost two wickets in the second over – Wharf dismissing Rob White before sending Wessels packing a ball later.

David Sales attempted to up the run-rate shortly after but holed out to Adam Shantry before Lance Klusener and O’Brien were left with too much to do, needing 16 from the final three balls.