Douthwaite makes charge for red-ball success with five-wicket haul

Dan Douthwaite dominated day two between Glamorgan and Cardiff UCCE with a first red-ball five-wicket haul.

Day two played out a similar story to day one with UCCE ending the day on 155-8, trailing the professionals by 60 runs.

Vinayak Raghavan’s figures (5-49) were the story of the morning session completing his five-wicket haul on UCCE debut with the final wicket of the morning of Timm van der Gugten.

That coming after Chris Cooke lasted just six balls into day two before Ben Morris picked up a fourth for the innings and some stubbornness from Andrew Salter (36) and James Harris (23 not out) got Glamorgan to 215 all out.

After reaching lunch unbeaten, captain Chris Gibson and Harry Friend made a mirroring start to that of David Lloyd and Eddie Byrom just under 24 hours earlier.

Gibson hitting Jamie McIlroy for 22 in his first over including two sixes on his way to 54.

After a worrying opening partnership of 86 for Glamorgan, the tale was not going in their favour once more. Douthwaite then took the ball and steamrolled through the UCCE middle order, collapsing the students to 170 all out.

Glamorgan will begin day three with their second innings, leading by 45 runs.

Douthwaite’s selection head-ache causing spell

Douthwaite, who was first picked up by Glamorgan following his performance against them for Cardiff UCCE in this fixture four years ago, has predominantly played white-ball cricket for the Welsh county, last featuring in a first-class game in 2021.

However, his spell of 5-31 in seven overs when UCCE were causing problems just one wicket down, has brought back reminiscent signs of dismissing Marnus Labuschagne and stalwart wicket-keeper, Cooke, in 2019.

The 26-year-old seam-bowling all-rounder will likely be competing for spots with Jamie McIlroy and Timm van der Gugten who both missed a lot of action through injury last season and James Harris who struggled to find his mark on a consistent basis in 2022, averaging 38 with the ball in hand.

Overseas bowler, Michael Neser, arrives in the Welsh capital after the opening County Championship game of the season, meaning a place for Douthwaite could open up.

Douthwaite’s impressive spell of fast bowling started by removing Friend who played a stubborn innings for 29 before dismissing Xavie Clarke, Morgan Bevans, Will Smale and Rhodri Lewis.

With Glamorgan’s squad tightening from last season, losing four seamers, including Michael Hogan, Douthwaite played in the red-ball pre-season fixtures in Zimbabwe in March prior to the Somerset and Cardiff UCCE fixtures.

Speaking after the game, Douthwaite commented: “It was a good feeling after the last few years of red ball cricket for me, it’s been a bit hit and miss.

“It was nice to hit the ground running and find some consistency which I’ve been working on over winter on just the second run out outdoors.

“We’re blessed with quality seam bowlers here so sometimes being that number seven or eight and fifth or sixth bowler it can be frustrating but I’ve just got to wait for my opportunity and take it with both hands.

“With Ness [Michael Neser] not at the opening game against Gloucestershire, if selected, I’ve got to really stake my claim and from my red-ball focus over winter it’s something I’m looking forward to the challenge of.”

Matt Maynard: “It’s not about time in the middle, we’re trying to win the game”

Speaking to Exposport after the game, Glamorgan Head Coach, Matt Maynard said: “It was a game of two halves for us with the ball today.

“We didn’t hit our areas early on then the spells David Lloyd and Dan Douthwaite had was incredible and got us back into the game and then after tea we bowled beautifully so happy at the end of day to bowl the students out.

“Getting 100 runs for the last four wickets is a key objective for us and we’ve got some good lower-order players so we ticked that off as well.

“Any player wants to spend time at the crease; If you’re top six or lower five. We know we got guys who can add runs lower down the order so it was good for them to get time in the middle.

“[Harry Podmore] is a seasoned pro. Since coming in he’s impressed us, he’s bowled good areas indoors and swung the ball and as we’re getting closer to the season he’s just upping his intensity.

“Dan [Douthwaite] has done his hopes no harm for this season with that five-fer, but more so the areas he bowled. He wasn’t going for many runs and he was asking questions and helped us, along with David [Lloyd], to a first innings lead which it didn’t look like we were going to get.

“It’s obviously important for the batters to spend time in the middle but it’s also important for the bowlers to get overs so it’s not about that, we’re going to try win the game tomorrow.”