Cricket: Maynard hits out for the title

A century apiece by Matthew Maynard and Hugh Morris, has brought Glamorgan within sight of their first Championship for 28 years. With a full complement of batting points to go with their four bowling points, they have now forced Kent into having to win their match against Surrey, a draw no longer enough for them to secure the title, should Glamorgan suddenly succumb to the unthinkable and lose here.

It is an unlikely outcome, after Glamorgan, made restless by persistent rain, finished the day 101 runs ahead, only four wickets down and well in control.

For the hardy souls who stayed until play eventually got under way at 3.50pm, the entertainment was worth the wait as 72 runs were added in just 10 overs. But while conditions never brightened beyond the murky, the Glamorgan batting, particularly that of their captain Maynard, seemed intent on overcoming the loss of 69 overs, by condensing an average day's scoring into two-and-a-half hours.

In a feverish blitz on Somerset's bowlers, this time including Andy Caddick, Maynard reached his third century of the season in just 89 balls without having scored a single. It was heady stuff and few could fail to drink it in as Maynard, his bat like a particle accelerator, smashed the round red atom from one boundary board to the next.

In one brief moment of mayhem, eight fours were scored in nine balls. But although the ball was struck with ferocious power throughout, none matched the scorching extra cover drive Maynard played off Caddick's first over of the day. Hit on the rise, the ball bisected the field before ending up against the boundary boards some 80 yards away.

Only a rare maiden, bowled by Graham Rose, interrupted the carnage. Indeed, it clearly upset Maynard so much, he promptly got out. He was neatly taken by Peter Bowler at slip as he aimed to belt Kevin Shine through the covers, a dismissal Tony Cottey aped two overs later.

Having added 235 in 41 overs with his captain, Morris, while never the dominant partner, began to come into his own following Maynard's departure. On another day, when beauty and big hitting were not such close bedfellows, his 177-ball hundred would surely have drawn the plaudits, particularly as it was his 53rd for Glamorgan, a number that puts him level with Alan Jones' all-time record for the club.

A loyal servant, Morris, 34 next month, may never get the chance to hold the record outright. At present, he is one of four former players shortlisted for the role of English Cricket Board's director of coaching, a job held by Mickey Stewart, who retires at the end of the month.

If Morris is appointed, Glamorgan's loss of an enthusiastic and talented servant will surely benefit English cricket. Mind you with the "Ayes" having it in Thursday's referendum, perhaps they will want to keep him on the Welsh side of Offa's Dyke.