Cricket: Uncapped pair set Glamorgan adrift

Glamorgan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351-8 dec

Leicestershire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .178 and 315-4

Match drawn

GLAMORGAN'S dream of recapturing the spirit of 1969 began to fade yesterday when they failed to achieve the victory that would have closed the gap with Middlesex at the top of the Championship table and strengthened the scent of a first title since Tony Lewis' team triumphed 24 summers ago.

At the start of the final day, Glamorgan appeared to have reasonable prospects, given that resilient batting is not a quality readily identified these days with Leicestershire, who began at 50 for 1 following on, still 123 runs short of making the visitors bat a second time.

But the early breakthrough that might have unhinged Leicestershire eluded the Welshmen. Steve Watkin sometimes made the ball leap from a spot on a length at the Pavilion End, but otherwise the pitch took on a generally benign nature.

What is more, Glamorgan had the misfortune to run into two batsmen with a high measure of personal motivation in Vince Wells and Peter Hepworth, who denied them a wicket until 4.35pm, after a partnership that fell only 11 runs short of the county record for the second wicket, set by Chris Balderstone and David Gower against Essex here in 1981.

Such was the unflappable application displayed by this pair, who are both uncapped, that Glamorgan must have sensed their chances ebbing away at an early stage. Hepworth, whose technique is modelled on Geoff Boycott, was in the meanest possible mood. Playing in his first Championship match in the final year of his contract, his career-best 129 could not have been more timely.

He did not offer a chance before a thick edge to backward point off Adrian Dale broke the stand, which was worth 278, after five and a half hours. The entertainment was not always memorable during this time, but once both batsmen had reached centuries, they dropped their reserve enough to play some fine strokes. Indeed, Hepworth moved into three figures with a handsome back-foot shot through the covers off Robert Croft's off-spin, one of his 18 fours.

Wells, who moved to Grace Road from Kent last year, has failed to establish a regular place this year. That situation should be resolved now. His 167 more than doubled his previous best, 81 against Kent two weeks ago. He has amassed 23 fours and one six, and, batting more freely than his partner, was dropped on 121 and 123 before extra cover finally snapped him up off a weary Croft.

(Photograph omitted)