Footitt debut haul helps Notts make giant strides

An eighth defeat in nine matches was compounded by dire news from the treatment room concerning their Australian opener Matthew Elliott, who missed this match after suffering an injury in training. Exploratory surgery will provide confirmation on Thursday but it is feared the key batsman has torn a knee cartilage and will miss the remainder of the season.

Glamorgan were 108 for 4 when play resumed yesterday morning, still 50 short of chasing down a first-innings deficit conceded after Chris Read's century had bolstered Nottinghamshire on Saturday. A collapse was feared after Sourav Ganguly failed to add to his overnight 22, the Indian captain offering the first of four top-notch slip catches taken by David Hussey by reaching too far to drive Greg Smith safely.

Michael Powell departed in similar fashion off Andrew Harris. Croft joined Richard Grant in a brief period of resistance that at least made sure the home side would bat a second time but when the latter drove loosely at Mark Footitt to provoke another smart reaction from Hussey, Glamorgan's lead was a mere 17.

Croft hung around, for more than two hours eventually, aided by David Harrison, who was caught - by Hussey, naturally - off a no-ball to Footitt's frustration.

When Hussey snapped him up in the next over, however, it was off a legitimate ball as Mark Ealham claimed two in three deliveries, also removing Andrew Davies' off stump.

Footitt, 19, finished the job by bowling Croft leg stump to complete a four-wicket return on his debut, an effort that matched the achievement of the 18-year-old Glamorgan newcomer Huw Waters, who caught the eye on Saturday.

Nottinghamshire needed fewer than 17 overs to sew up a 10-wicket victory and maximum points, lifting them from fifth place to first in the First Division table with a game in hand, although with Surrey and perhaps Hampshire poised to overtake them at the conclusion of their matches.