Cricket: Waiting goes on for Maynard

Sussex 332

Glamorgan 353-8 dec

MATTHEW MAYNARD is still seeking his first century of the season - the last time he reached three figures was at Taunton almost a year ago when Glamorgan secured the Championship. Against Sri Lanka in July he fell one run short, and yesterday a ton was his for the taking when he set off for a tight second run and lost out to Robin Martyn-Jenkins throw.

But, while it lasted, the 109-ball innings, adorned with 16 fours and a wristy, effortless six over mid-wicket off Martin-Jenkins when the Glamorgan captain had barely taken guard, was vintage Maynard. He has an unfussy, self-contained elegance, all timing and power placement with no need of elaborate flourishes, a style as brutal as his haircut.

Tony Cottey contributed just a quarter of the runs to their 100 partnership but he never seemed becalmed - it is just that there was not an awful lot for him to do. Ironically, late in the day Cottey too was to cheat himself of a deserved century.

The Sussex innings did not detain Glamorgan long in the morning. Jason Lewry, the brisk left-armer who had a season's bag of 60 wickets before this match, awoke to the news that he was selected for the England A team tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa, and reflected that a two-week family holiday was the closest he had come to such an overseas campaign in the past. He was perhaps still in a state of pleasurable shock when he snicked his fellow-tourist Darren Thomas, the most productive of Glamorgan's pace men, and Nick Wilton soon followed.

A composed start to the Glamorgan reply was established by Wayne Law, three days short of his 20th birthday, and Alun Evans, but immediately after lunch they departed in the space of three balls. Once Adrian Dale had given Lewry a celebratory wicket, the scene was set for Maynard, and, after his dazzling afternoon display, Cottey to assume responsibility in Glamorgan's ambition to take their score way beyond the Sussex total of 332.

Cottey has had a mixed season with the bat - centuries against Northamptonshire and Durham have been qualified by some modest scores. He pressed on in fading light until a clatter of wickets - three in five balls, including Cottey's slice high to third man - meant that the chance of a substantial lead had been dissipated. With the Glamorgan keeper Adrian Shaw unable to bat having broken his finger on Monday, Maynard decided to cut his losses and declare.