Cricket: Glamorgan fightback at Lord's

Apr 23 2008 Gareth Griffiths

GLAMORGAN launched a fightback in the opening session of their LV County Championship season as they claimed the vital wickets of Middlesex's England duo Andrew Strauss and Owais Shah at Lord's just before tea.

After rain delayed the start until 2.15pm, Strauss and teenager Billy Godleman put on 69 for the first wicket, after visiting captain David Hemp had won the toss and put the hosts into bat in the division two clash.

New overseas signing Jason Gillespie started his Glamorgan career with a six-over spell that yielded only 12 runs and the Australian twice forced edges from Strauss but the ball fell tantalisingly short of the slips on both occasions.

But Alex Wharf struck with the final ball of his fourth over when he had Strauss caught by wicketkeeper Mark Wallace for 36.

Shah was the next victim with Wallace taking a spectacular diving catch off the bowling of Ryan Watkins, after the Middlesex number three was guilty of a rash attacking drive.

And in his second spell, Gillespie gained his reward two overs before the interval when he forced Godleman into fending the ball straight to Gareth Rees at short leg with Middlesex losing their third wicket for only 13 runs in 7.4 overs.

Acting skipper Ed Joyce and Eoin Morgan then guided the home county to 84 for three at tea.