David Lloyd fell eight runs short of a maiden first-class century in the play that was possible on the third day at Wantage Road as the weather once again was in control.
After only 37 overs were possible on the opening two days, Glamorgan took their first innings total to 233, Lloyd the last man to fall for 92, caught on deep point as he searched for his century, Olly Stone with the three wickets to fall and finishing with 4-73.
Dewri Penrhyn Jones then took his first two first-class wickets as Northants reached 128-5 in reply, captain Alex Wakely top scoring with 40, before bad light ended the day’s play midway through the afternoon.
With only 82 overs played across the three days scuppering any chance of a decent contest, a draw looks almost certain on the final day unless both sides try and manufacture a result.
It may not be a match that lives long in the memory but for Lloyd it was almost a moment to remember, the 23-year-old falling agonisingly short of a first century for Glamorgan.
Having already passed his career best when resuming on 64, he soon lost Andrew Salter, who fended a short Stone delivery to Richard Gleeson at short gully.
Lloyd had a stroke of luck when on 87 he was dropped at slip by Stone off Kleinveldt, but hit his 15th boundary later in the over as he continued to score at around a run a ball throughout.
However Penrhyn Jones edged Stone to slip to depart for 17 on debut and with Mark Wallace unable to resume his innings following his calf injury sustained on day two, Lloyd went on the attack with last man Michael Hogan for company, and could only pick out a diving Gleeson on the point boundary.
That gave Stone his fourth wicket on the day he was also called up to the England Performance Program fast bowlers’ camp this winter, taking his tally to a respectable 38 for the season.
When it came to Northants’ turn to bat they lost Rob Newton to the second ball of the innings, edging Craig Meschede to slip, and after a brisk stand of 50 with Wakely, Ben Duckett, who was batting despite dislocating a finger in the field on day two, was caught behind off Penrhyn Jones’ last delivery before lunch, giving the 21-year-old a maiden first-class wicket.
Bad light forced the players off five overs into the afternoon and although they returned 25 minutes later, Wakely was soon heading back to the pavilion, edging Penrhyn Jones behind after a well-made 40.
Josh Cobb soon followed bowled by Graham Wagg for a 13 ball duck and having scored 32 at almost a run a ball Rob Keogh edged Wagg, Chris Cooke taking his third catch behind the stumps at full length.
Adam Rossington made 25* in the company of David Murphy but the light worsened again just before 3:00pm and no further play would be possible.
