Counter-attacking batting from Glamorgan slowed Kent’s progress, though they remain on course for victory after day three at Canterbury.
Centuries from David Lloyd and Graham Wagg checked Kent’s progress in the afternoon session on the third day of their County Championship encounter with Glamorgan, as the pair put on a superb partnership of 215 for the sixth wicket in just under 40 overs.
Kent eventually dismissed the visitors for 414, however, leaving them 187 to chase to pick up their first win of the season. Opening pair Daniel Bell-Drummond and Tom Latham saw out a potentially tricky six-over spell before the close, taking their side to 22 without loss at stumps, requiring a further 165 on the final day tomorrow.
Starting the day on 16/1, still requiring a further 212 runs just to make Kent back again, Glamorgan’s top order dug in reasonably well. Will Bragg scored a half-century but fell shortly afterwards, bowled off an inside-edge by debutant Kent seamer Hugh Bernard for 51, before the visitors lost their third wicket shortly before the lunch break; Mitch Claydon inducing an edge from James Kettleborough to end the opener’s watchful stay at the crease for 42.
When Matt Coles, fit enough to bowl after suffering a foot injury earlier in the match, removed Chris Cooke (4) and Aneurin Donald (38) shortly after lunch, it looked like Kent might have wrapped it up quickly, but Lloyd and Wagg had other ideas.
The pair, who came together with their side still 72 runs behind, took the attack to the Kent bowling unit, regularly finding the boundary, and chipping away at the Kent total. They moved their side into the lead, and both brought up centuries; Lloyd’s the second of his First Class season, though the first in his career in the County Championship.
Momentum swung back Kent’s way when the new ball was taken in the evening session, as three wickets fell in four overs for just six runs. Lloyd nicked Claydon through to wicket-keeper Adam Rouse to fall for an excellent 107, before Craig Meschede was bowled by Darren Stevens for a duck, not offering a shot.
Stevens then picked up his third and fourth wickets of the innings by removing Wagg, for 106, and Andrew Salter, for 19; the 40-year-old all-rounder proving his evergreen class as he finished with bowling figures of 4-79 from 27 overs.
Coles polished the innings off, having Hogan caught behind by Rouse for a single to leave the visitors all out for 414; a fair effort given their perilous position at 156/5 early in the afternoon session.
Bell-Drummond and Latham saw the home side through to the close unscathed, and will look to push on in the morning with 165 more runs standing between Kent and their first victory in this year’s County Championship Division Two campaign.
Glamorgan’s third day century makers David Lloyd and Graham Wagg were rightly proud of their record breaking double-century stand that helped draw their side back into the match.
“It’s nice to get my first championship ton under my belt, it was an amazing feeling to finally get over the line,” said Lloyd. And thanks to ‘Waggy’ who helped keep me going.”
As for Wagg, he added: “We both said that if we could out a partnership together we could possibly turn things around. We kept each other going because their were periods when their bowlers were tired.
“They bowled well in periods, but when the field went out as they tired it got that little bit easier. All in all, we’ll take that performance today.”
Darren Stevens who, with a four-wicket haul, was the pick of the Kent attack, said:
“We saw this morning that we had little or no luck with the new ball, so if we can get through the first hour with no damage then the win should be well within our capabilities- and it’d be even better if I didn’t have to bat.
“I tried to stay away from ‘Waggy’ for a couple overs after I’d dropped him at slip on 11, and it was a disappointing drop, but he and ‘Lloydy’ played well and it was just one of those things. I did have a word when I finally got Waggy out mind and reminded him I’ve got him out on his last three visits here.
“I have to say its a belting pitch, the best here since 2005. There’s a bit in for the bowlers but if they miss their areas they get hit for four, so all credit to Simon Williamson the groundsman.”
Stumps, day three, Kent v Glamorgan at Canterbury, May 1-4 2016:
Kent 488 (Bell-Drummond 84; Hogan 4-91) and 22/0 require a further 165 runs to beat Glamorgan 260 (Meschede 63; Claydon 4-59) and 414 (Lloyd 107, Wagg 106; Stevens 4-79)
Kent: Bell-Drummond, Latham, Denly, Northeast*, Dickson, Stevens, Rouse†, Coles, Claydon, Riley, Bernard
Glamorgan: Kettleborough, Rudolph*, Bragg, Cooke†, Donald, Lloyd, Wagg, Meschede, Salter, Podmore, Hogan
Points: Kent 8*, Glamorgan 5*
Full scorecard available here.
Photograph via Sarah Ansell Photography