An unbeaten century from Jim Allenby put Glamorgan in charge against Kent at Cardiff in the final game of the County Championship season.

It was a mixed day for Kent who made one change to the side that beat Derbyshire last week, with Daniel Bell-Drummond coming in to the starting eleven in place of Alex Blake at three.

The opening batsmen put Kent to the sword after Rob Key put the home side into bat after winning the toss and despite taking wickets before and after the tea interval, Glamorgan asserted their authority towards the end of the day’s play and go into day two of the game with the advantage.

Glamorgan ended the day on 334 for eight with Allenby unbeaten on 100 from 132 balls, having shared in an unbroken stand of 82 with John Glover for the ninth wicket.

Kent have to win the match if they are to have any chance of overtaking either Derbyshire or Yorkshire to claim one of the two promotion spots.

Will Bragg and Stewart Walters also made half-centuries as the hosts attempted to consign Leicestershire to bottom place in the table.

With a 10:30am start and a green-looking wicket, Kent captain Rob Key had no hesitation in putting Glamorgan into bat.

But the pitch did not produce the wickets Key might have hoped for in the morning session as Glamorgan cruised to 133 for two from 31 overs before lunch.

Glamorgan’s openers Bragg and Nick James took their side to 50 before Darren Stevens struck with his third ball.

He had James caught behind for 26, but Bragg and Walters then put on 72.

It would have been entirely Glamorgan’s session had Bragg, whose 59 contained 10 fours, not been trapped leg before by James Tredwell attempting a slog-sweep in the penultimate over before lunch.

Key had looked frustrated but was much happier in the afternoon session as Charlie Shreck, who went for 47 from his opening spell of seven overs, and Tredwell took four Glamorgan wickets between them.

Glamorgan were guilty of some poor shots. Walters – on 63 – hooked Shreck down the throat of Michael Powell at long-leg, and David Lloyd edged Tredwell behind to record a third consecutive duck after a pair on debut against Yorkshire.

Ben Wright made it three wickets to fall in the space of 22 balls, inside-edging an attempted drive off Shreck on 26, before captain Mark Wallace was bowled dancing down the wicket to Tredwell shortly before tea.

Graham Wagg being trapped lbw, playing across the line to Matt Coles, brought Robert Croft to the wicket to warm applause in what is his final match for Glamorgan after 24 years with the club.

Although his penultimate innings only lasted six balls before being caught behind off Coles, it brought together Allenby and Glover, who steered Glamorgan to a third batting point by the close.

 

Kent won the toss and elected to bowl.

Glamorgan side: Bragg, James, Walters, Wright, Lloyd, Allenby, Wallace, Wagg, Croft, Glover, Reed.

Kent side: Key, Northeast, Bell-Drummond, Nash, Powell, Stevens, Jones, Tredwell, Coles, Davies, Shreck.

Umpires: S Garratt & T Jesty

Close of play day one: Glamorgan 334 for 8.