Cricket: Glamorgan lose touch of glamour

Worcestershire 267

Glamorgan 184

MUSIC-HALL JOKES did come before the one about the traditional Glamorgan collapse. Even loftily third-placed in the Championship, it still happens. Losing five wickets for six runs off four overs in 18 minutes takes some doing, especially in a four-day match. Middlesex no, Glamorgan and a few others, definitely. There rests the destiny of the Championship chase, consistency and confidence, though Roland Lefebvre achieved a recuperative half-century, from 70 balls, including four fours and a six in two overs from Phil Newport.

Chris Tolley, flame-haired and still feeling his way in the game, brought about this dramatically changing character with 3 for 0 in 11 balls. Tolley, a quiet soul, contradicts his off-field image by running in fiercely. He returned a career-best 4 for 67 from 21 overs after taking a return catch from Colin Metson.

The first ball after lunch from Newport accounted for Vivian Richards, who sliced a drive to gulley. David Hemp edged the first of two catches in swift succession to Graeme Hick at second slip, Tony Cottey was leg before, playing an indeterminate stroke, and Glamorgan suddenly feared the follow-on.

They resisted it through the vigour of Lefebvre until he hoisted a catch to long off. By then, Glamorgan were back in the match, having initially owed much to Adrian Dale, a replacement opener for Steve James, who has a broken thumb.

Matthew Maynard, a batsman worth travelling miles to watch, struck five boundaries before being stumped off Richard Illingworth. Probably only Maynard could be dismissed that way on this pitch of some inconsistent bounce, which had unseated Hugh Morris, his captain, caught at the wicket.

Glamorgan chased a few off-line balls with injudicious strokes and paid the price. As for Worcestershire, their driving seat needed some adjustment by the end of a day blighted by four interruptions costing 45 overs.