Day 4
WORCS EXTEND LEAD AT TOP DESPITE GLAMORGAN CLINGING ON FOR DRAW
Worcestershire extended their lead at the top of Division Two in the LV = County Championship despite being thwarted in their victory push by Glamorgan on the final day at the Swalec Stadium.
The county have taken 65 points from their opening four matches and hold an 11 point advantage over second placed Hampshire and 16 over Essex who are their next opponents at New Road starting on May 18.
They looked on course to force a win over Glamorgan when the fifth and sixth wickets fell early in the afternoon session.
But Will Bragg and Mark Wallace defied them for 41 overs in adding 97 and Glamorgan closed on 229-7 after being set a 382 target before the two sides shook hands with two balls remaining.
Bragg went to the wicket in the first over of the day and batted 92 overs, 285 balls and 343 minutes for his unbeaten 91.
Worcestershire collected nine points to their opponents eight with Gareth Andrew (2-68), Jack Shantry (2-25) Saeed Ajmal (2-59) and Charlie Morris (1-41) the wicket-takers.
There was also the loss of large chunks of the after tea sessions to rain on the second and third days plus a further interruption during the final session of the game.
Glamorgan resumed on 14-1 and Andrew struck with the fourth ball of the day when nightwatchman Dean Cosker (8) was caught behind by keeper Ben Cox without addition to the overnight score.
It was Andrew's 20th wicket of the season and his seventh of the game after his career best 5-40 in the first innings had been chiefly responsible for Worcestershire earning a lead of 85.
Shantry replaced Morris and his first delivery reaped instant dividends as Gareth Rees (3) was traped lbw with a ball of full length with the total on 26.
It became 38-4 when veteran Murray Goodwin (7) shaped to play a leg glance and was bowled by Shantry.
Bragg and Stewart Walters defied Worcestershire for the remainder of the session.
The pair brought up the 50 stand in the last over before the interval with Glamorgan on 90-4 from 36 overs.
At that juncture Shantry had figures of 2-6 off eight overs and Andrew 2-30 from nine overs.
Saeed Ajmal claimed his first success of the innings in his first over after lunch without addition to the total in dismissing Walters who was caught at leg slip by Ross Whiteley.
Then Morris gained a reward in his second over back in the attack after replacing Andrew when bowling Jim Allenby for 13 to leave Glamorgan on 119-6 in the 51st over.
Bragg continued to provide solid resistance and he reached his 50 off 185 balls with four boundaries out of 142-6.
His skipper Mark Wallace also dug in and provided stubborn resistance as Glamorgan reached 149-6 by tea.
The pair continued in the same vein after tea until a short rain delay at 216-6 in the 91st over.
But immediately after the resumption Wallace (47) was adjudged lbw to Ajmal to end 123 balls of defiance and a partnership of 97 in 41 overs with Bragg.
There were seven overs left at that juncture and Bragg ensured there was no further joy for the visitors.
