Mark Wallace's highest score of the season put the brakes on Northants' County Championship promotion charge.

The Glamorgan wicketkeeper hit a gutsy 72 to help his side to 286-9 on day one at Wantage Road after they had earlier slipped to 3-2 and then 55-4.

Johan van der Wath helped himself to four wickets for the hosts but Wallace ensured the spoils were shared when bad light brought a premature end.

Glamorgan skipper David Hemp had won the toss and he chose to bat.

But he watched on in horror as his side made a dreadful start.

Richard Grant was run out for two by Jason Brown after a mix-up with partner Gareth Rees when attempting a third run.

And Hemp was soon back in the pavilion himself when he was bowled by Van der Wath for a fourth-ball duck.

The ship was steadied by Michael Powell and Rees, who added 50 for the third wicket before Powell fell to Andrew Hall for 32.

Hall soon had a second wicket when he took Jamie Dalrymple's edge and Niall O'Brien collected behind the stumps.

But Rees and Wallace dug in and took the visitors to 99-4 at lunch.

Rees brought up his half-century soon after lunch and the pair had added 71 for the fifth wicket when Van der Wath broke Rees's resistance by bowling him for 53.

Wallace and Alex Wharf added a further 76, before Monty Panesar bowled Wharf for 36.

But it took a moment of magic from Hall to send Wallace on his way as the former South African international hung on to a stunning catch at first slip off Panesar (2-62).

Robert Croft (43) continued Glamorgan's lower order fightback and it looked to be honours even at stumps.