COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO, The Swalec Stadium:
CLOSE OF PLAY, FINAL DAY: Match Drawn. Glamorgan 308 & 232-3dec Northants 215-8 dec & 140-6 (Glamorgan 9pts, Northants 8pts)

Gareth Rees hit his first County Championship century of the season

Gareth Rees's first County Championship century of the season was not enough to secure Glamorgan victory at Cardiff in the Division Two clash with Northants.

Rees (116no) top scored as Glamorgan made 232-3dec, setting Northants 326 to win in a minimum of 56 overs.

Young James Harris claimed two wickets in successive balls to leave the visitors in real trouble at 10-2.

But Nicky Boje hit 52, aided by Mark Nelson (38) as Northants hung on for the draw, closing on 140-6.

Adam Shantry offered hope when he twice broke through in successive overs after tea to remove Nelson, caught behind, and Boje, who had his leg stump removed.

From 116-5, Northants then slumped further to 123-6 when Johannes van der Wath was caught by keeper Mark Wallace after the ball ricocheted up off silly point.

But there were no more scares for the visitors as Andrew Hall and David Willey batted out the next 15 overs before the players shook hands.

Resuming at 59-1 earlier in the day, Glamorgan lost Ben Wright and Michael Powell on as they looked to build on their overnight lead of 152.

But Rees reached his half century from 113 balls and there were no further scares as he and in-form skipper Dalrymple put on 149 in 25 overs either side of lunch to put themselves in control.

Rees had only managed 103 championship runs in his previous nine innings. But, when the declaration finally came, he had faced 187 balls for his unbeaten 116.

In contrast, Dalrymple, who tops the first-class averages, having now compiled 602 runs in seven matches, had taken only 62 balls to reach 70 not out.

On the bowling front, Monty Panesar finished with rather modest match figures of 2-149 ahead of the first Ashes Test back at Sophia Gardens on July 8 - in just 19 days' time.

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