Kent Made To Work Hard

Jacques Rudolph claimed Glamorgan's first century of the season to help put the Welsh county in a dominant position the second day of their LV= County Championship Division Two match against Kent at Cardiff.

The South Africa batsman, whose 103 came in his 13th innings for the county, shared in a 181 run partnership with skipper Mark Wallace (82), who was promoted to number three in the order.

Despite losing three wickets for 26 runs after tea, Glamorgan, with useful contributions from Jim Allenby (59 not out) and Chris Cooke (54 no), finished the day on 337 for four – a first innings lead of 84. That was after Kent had been bowled out for 253 in the morning with Michael Hogan finishing with figures of five for 58.

Kent had resumed their first innings on 236 for eight after a difficult opening day when the run rate rarely got above two-and-a-half runs an over. Mitchell Claydon and Adam Riley survived until the seventh over before Claydon presented Hogan with his fourth victim, caught by Ruaidhri Smith taking a fine catch running around at long-leg. That was just after Kent registered their second batting point. Hogan ended Kent's innings by bowling Robbie Joseph for a duck – the Australian's 25th wicket of the summer.

In reply Glamorgan's biggest run-getter this season, Will Bragg, who was promoted to open the innings after a period batting at number three, lasted only 13 balls as he was caught behind unable to deal with a rising delivery from Joseph who was only in the side because Doug Bollinger has a shoulder injury.

Despite the early setback batting conditions were much better for Glamorgan after a mostly overcast opening day. Claydon actually bowled Rudolph on 48 but it was from a no ball – the first of the contest. To add insult to injury the no ball brought up the Glamorgan 100.

Rudolph brought up his half century (100 balls and eight fours) and the 100 partnership with three through mid-wicket and that was followed the next ball by Wallace's 50, which he reached from 79 balls and four fours.

The Glamorgan pair looked very settled on a placid pitch until Wallace perished to the third ball after tea caught behind off Riley attempting to cut. But Rudolph went on to complete his first century for Glamorgan from 165 balls with 16 fours out of 207 for two. Two overs later however, Joseph removed Rudolph caught behind from a bottom edge.

It was the first of two wickets in two overs for no runs as Ben Wright was caught down the legside off Riley giving Billings his fourth catch.

Having guided Glamorgan into the lead in the 66th over Allenby and Cooke went to their half centuries. Allenby brought his from only 54 balls, including two sixes, while Cooke's took 88 balls. The 100 partnership for the fourth wicket came up in only 21.1 overs.

Kent took the second new ball three overs from stumps but to no avail.