Sanderson Stars as Glamorgan Fight Back at Wantage Road
Northamptonshire’s bowlers, led by evergreen seamer Ben Sanderson, made the most of the new Dukes ball on the opening day of their Vitality County Championship clash against Glamorgan at Wantage Road. Despite Glamorgan slumping to 27 for 4, Colin Ingram led a spirited fightback with an unbeaten 69 off 110 balls, guiding the visitors to 203 for 7 at the close.
Sanderson’s probing line and length proved unplayable at times, claiming three wickets. He was ably supported by Australian international Chris Tremain and England Under-19 Raphy Weatherall, who also took two wickets each. The Northamptonshire bowlers exploited the atmospheric conditions, which aided movement through the air and off the seam.
Glamorgan’s top order struggled against the disciplined bowling, with Zain-ul-Hassan, Billy Root, and Sam Northeast all falling cheaply. However, Ingram played a pivotal role in rebuilding the innings, first with Chris Cooke (28) and then with Dan Douthwaite (50). Ingram’s crisp attacking shots and solid defense kept Glamorgan in the game.
Douthwaite’s bustling 50 came off just 63 balls, and he formed a crucial sixth-wicket partnership of 74 with Ingram. The pair took the attack to the Northamptonshire bowlers, scoring boundaries at a steady rate. However, Douthwaite’s innings ended when he was trapped leg before wicket by Weatherall.
Ingram continued to anchor the Glamorgan innings, reaching his second consecutive half-century of the season. He found support from Mason Crane (17), who ensured no further scares for the visitors.
Before the start of play, a minute’s silence was observed in memory of former Northamptonshire captain Raman Subba Row CBE, who passed away on Wednesday at the age of 92.