Cricket: Terry's reminder of past prosperity

Hampshire 338-8 v Glamorgan

ALL EYES focused at St Helen's on Robin Smith, dropped from the England team, and David Gower, now unlikely to wear again the three lions on his sweater. Instead, Paul Terry, England batsman circa 1984, offered a blast from the past.

Terry, now 34, scored his 30th first-class hundred for Hampshire, struck 25 fours in reaching 150, but this innings was contradictory as his next five runs occupied 16 overs. Playing and surviving for day two was probably the answer because this pitch, sited in what will become the in- goal area of Swansea Rugby Club's arena in a fortnight, offered enticement and slow turn for spinners.

His run-out dismissal, five minutes before the close, typified the sharpness of Glamorgan's fielding this summer. Malcolm Marshall drove a delivery into the covers and sent back Terry, who was beaten by the combined excellence of Tony Cottey, the fielder, and Roland Lefebvre, who flicked the ball onto the stumps.

This was Terry's first century against Glamorgan. A good, not that old, county journeyman, he needs centuries against Essex, Middlesex, Leicestershire and Yorkshire to complete the full set which he deserves.

Four-day cricket, with reduced fixtures, has made this challenge eminently tougher, but Hampshire did take three batting points from the second in the table team, who need a victory to challenge the 39-point lead held by Middlesex.

Terry shared the major partnership, of 93 in 33 overs for the sixth wicket, with Adrian Aymes, eventually leg-before to Lefebvre, by far Glamorgan's most threatening bowler on an overcast, heavy day of multiple overs.

Terry's innings of 174, six short of equalling his championship best, incorporated 28 fours off 350 balls. Gower scored six and out, lofting Robert Croft into the third row of pavilion seats before his leading edge, next ball but one, chipped a straightforward catch to extra cover.

Terry's success was keeping the ball on the greensward. Others lofted it into the middle distance and holed out, notably Mark Nicholas and Kevan James, both to mid-on. Gower's stroke was especially bitter-sweet. The crowd wanted to see him bat - but not at Glamorgan's cost.