Maynard's aggression puts Glamorgan on top

Surrey 204 Glamorgan 133

An unbeaten half-century by Glamorgan's captain, Matthew Maynard, from just 51 balls has put his team in with a chance of taking a telling first- innings advantage over Surrey after the home side were bowled out by tea for 204. With both sides wearing black arm-bands following the tragic events in Paris, Glamorgan's glee was somewhat lost in the sombre atmosphere of a near-empty Oval.

Maynard, who came to the wicket after Hugh Morris was caught behind off Saqlain Mushtaq, played with both authority and freedom, unencumbered by the dislocated thumb that troubled him against Leicestershire.

When he is in the mood, Maynard has a power and range of stroke few in the land can match. Yesterday few escaped his wrath and, having pulled and glanced Ben Hollioake for a brace of fours, he savagely clumped Saqlain high and wide for six over mid-wicket.

If there is a criticism, it is that when the pressure is on he tends to overdo the gung-ho bit, and in the past some of his downfalls have been every bit as spectacular as his successes.

Form can be a misleading guide with which to judge county cricket teams at this time of the year. Before this game, Surrey, some 20 points adrift of their opponents here, had beaten four of their last five opponents, while Glamorgan, the Championship's co-leaders, had won just once.

It was a record that did not bode well for the visitors, especially after Adam Hollioake won the toss on a dry pitch that provided plenty of early turn for those prepared to work their fingers.

That said, spin did not play its part until substantial inroads had already been made, and Waqar's return to his old stamping ground came to almost instant fruition when in his third over he removed his old captain Alec Stewart, caught behind by the keeper, Adrian Shaw.

With this winter's touring side to be decided within the next week, Mark Butcher could have done with a big score to help cement his name in the selectors' minds. Instead, having reached 20 in untroubled fashion, he tried to whip across a straight ball from Steve Watkin and was lbw.

Such lapses in concentration are not unusual at this time of year and Graham Thorpe, after a flurry of boundaries, was equally guilty, edging an ambitious cover drive off Darren Thomas.

With three prime wickets virtually gifted Glamorgan's way, Croft was left to slowly exert pressure from the Pavilion End. With the ball occasionally turning sharply, Surrey's middle order simply did not have the technical wherewithal to keep him out without taking risks, and both Hollioake brothers were out sweeping across the line.

Adam Hollioake, who in all probability will lead England's one-day side to Sharjah this December, had begun aggressively, striking his fifth ball (from Croft) for a mighty six over long-off.

That dominance was short-lived, however, and only Alistair Brown played with the necessary determination. Positive but not over-ambitious, Brown struck the ball with his gong-like clarity until a rare moment of indecision against the first ball of Watkin's third spell, giving Shaw the third of his five catches.