Weston sets a test

Cricket: Glamorgan 328 and 8-1 Worcestershire 200-0 dec

It was difficult not to feel sympathy for Anthony Cottey. In the absence of Matthew Maynard, he was captaining Glamorgan for the first time and had to suffer the indignity of watching the Worcestershire openers, Philip Weston and Tim Curtis, put the Welsh county to the sword.

Cottey used seven bowlers in a vain attempt to prise them apart, but on a gentle pitch and with boundary ropes much closer to the middle than is usual it was always a thankless task.

Weston in particular was in awesome form as the first wicket pair put on exactly 200 in 48.4 overs before Tom Moody declared 128 runs adrift of Glamorgan's 328 half an hour before the close. It proved a sensible decision as Alamgir Sheriyar trapped Hugh Morris leg before for four as Glamorgan ended the day at 8 for one, knowing that unless there is a collapse, Cottey will have to match Moody's ambition some time tomorrow.

Weston had reached his highest score in first-class cricket when he stood at 121 not out at the declaration. Positive, firm and punishing, his driving was a delight as he stroked 19 boundaries off the 157 deliveries he faced. Curtis, who scored 61, also joined in the fun in the latter stages of a partnership that reduced the Glamorgan fielders, not to mention their bowlers, to bit players. He included six boundaries in his half-century.

It was all too much for Glamorgan, who were not helped by the fact that their West Indian all-rounder, Ottis Gibson, was restricted to just two overs and is to undergo a second groin examination later this week.

Bowling off a shortened run and at considerably less than half-pace, Gibson conceded 13 runs in those two overs although he had shown few signs of the injury when sharing an exhilarating seventh-wicket stand of 70 in 18 overs with Robert Croft earlier in the day.

The 27-year-old Bajan struck seven fours and a six off the 50 deliveries he faced during a 65-minute stay at the wicket, but once he had left, adjudged caught behind off Richard Illingworth for 51, Croft took over.

The off-spinner, told that he needs to be more consistent with his batting to enhance his England claims, responded superbly with a controlled unbeaten 73.