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[cricket_news]

Udal declaration sets up last day
24 April 2009, 6:48 pm



Udal declaration sets up last day

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO, Lord's

Middlesex v Glamorgan

22-25 April (Play starts 1100 BST)

CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY THREE: Glamorgan 505 and 94-4, Middlesex 414-8 dec

(Glam 7 pts, Middx 7 pts)

Middlesex v Glamorgan commentary

Middlesex v Glamorgan scorecard

Middlesex skipper Shaun Udal's reward for an imaginative declaration was a late Glamorgan wobble at Lord's to set up a potentially tense final day.

With the game looking set for a draw, Udal declared on 414-8 after Dawid Malan had made 88, then succeeded in putting the Welsh under real pressure.

Glamorgan finally made it to the close on 94-4, with an overall lead of 185.

But it could easily have been worse, Mike Powell and nightwatchman Adam Shantry both surviving dropped catches.

Powell's miss was not too expensive, adding just four runs before being trapped in front by Alan Richardson. And, in any case, Udal's frustration at those misses was offset considerably by the spirit his side showed.

Earlier, when Aussie debutant Phillip Hughes fell with just 18 runs added to his overnight century and Neil Dexter edged a mis-hook to slip to depart for 72, Middlesex looked as if they might even be forced to follow-on as Garnett Kruger bowled Glamorgan into the ascendancy.

But South African Malan was equal to the situation, receiving stubborn lower-order support as he compiled a fluent 88 from 114 balls, with 12 fours, despite suffering the hamstring strain which later prevented him from fielding.

But Kruger's 4-35 in two rapid spells earlier on day three was evidence that there was still something in a placid pitch for bowlers who bent their backs. And Tim Murtagh's eight-over new-ball spell of 2-19 began to vindicate Udal's decision to declare 91 runs behind.

Further wickets for Gareth Berg and Richardson opened up the match still further, although a draw is still the most likely outcome.



Source: BBC Sport | Cricket | World Edition