Day one in Cardiff was very much one that the home team will look back on with satisfaction as they reached 380/3 at stumps, having been asked to bat first.
Both Glamorgan and Derbyshire still have outside chances of a promotion slot but will need two good wins in the final two games to put pressure on Middlesex. Glamorgan’s Shubman Gill was unable to take his place in the side due to illness and was replaced by Tom Bevan. This would be the 23-year-old’s maiden first class game after making appearances in the Royal London Cup. Glamorgan also left out Kiran Carlson in order to play an extra bowler in the form of off-spinner, Andrew Salter. Derbyshire brought in Adam Sylvester for his first team debut, a 22-year-old seamer who was born in Cardiff but has been putting in some impressive performances for their second XI.
Billy Godleman’s decision to bowl first was met with a few raised eyebrows and Derbyshire were immediately put on the back foot when Ben Aitchison went over on his ankle, while bowling the third ball of the game. He had to leave the field and the over was completed by Anuj Dal. Sylvester took the new ball from the other end, rather than the impressive Sam Conners, but it was Dal who struck first, inducing Eddie Byrom to nick one through to Brooke Guest. Bevan joined David Lloyd and together they comfortably saw off the new ball and at lunch had taken the score to 99/1, Lloyd having reached 50 off 79 balls.
After lunch, Bevan was unfortunate to miss out on his half century, playing a loose shot off Alex Thomson, dismissed for 48. Sam Northeast was then bowled by an excellent delivery from Luis Reece with the score on 183. Meanwhile Lloyd was batting with authority, and he moved on to his first century of the season. At tea, Glamorgan were well placed at 228/3.
Aitchison had tried to resume bowling, but only managed one over and in the evening session the workload for the Derbyshire bowlers began to tell. Lloyd brought up his 150 off 218 balls and Root reached his half century. Lloyd went onto his double century just before stumps and he and Root put on 85 runs in the 16 overs bowled with the second new ball. At the end of play the partnership stood at 197.
Derbyshire’s bowling attack has been a problem for them all season and Glamorgan will be expecting to go past 500. The question is whether there is enough in this pitch for them to be able to dismiss Derbyshire twice. With two spinners they will be hoping for some deterioration of the pitch, although that has not been the trend in recent times at Sophia Gardens.
