Sam Northeast Helps Save Glamorgan But Admits Team Must Improve

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 08: Sam Northeast of Glamorgan bats during Day 4 of the Vitality County Championship match between Middlesex and Glamorgan at Lord's Cricket Ground on April 08, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)

Sam Northeast Helps Save Glamorgan But Admits Team Must Improve

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By David Williams

Sam Northeast admits Glamorgan need to improve if they are to challenge for promotion this season after it needed another epic innings from the captain to save his team.

In-form duo Northeast and Colin Ingram hit superb final-day rearguard centuries to help Glamorgan secure a Vitality County Championship draw against frustrated Yorkshire at Headingley.

South African veteran Ingram and unbeaten captain Northeast continued their excellent starts to the season with patient scores of 113 and 142, completing a double-century partnership for the fourth wicket in their side’s second innings.

Northeast said: “It’s been a tough four days, they’re a good side and we needed everything to pull through today. We got a bit of luck with the darkness and some rain.

“It’s about getting yourself in and trying to be as positive as you can be. Colin is playing unbelievably well, it’s the best form I’ve seen him in for sure and it took a big effort but we managed to get there.

“We tried to take it half an hour at a time, so it was nice to be there at the end and try to guide the guys for a draw.

“Yorkshire have a really good batting line-up, but we need to improve in certain areas for sure and to post bigger totals in their first innings.”

Yorkshire had claimed a first-innings lead of 298 just after lunch on day three and would have been confident of forcing a first win of 2024 at the fifth attempt as Glamorgan started the day on 171 for three.

But, when thunder and lightning intervened just before 4.20pm, they were 372 for seven with a lead of 74. No more play was possible.

Pre-season Division Two title favourites Yorkshire have now gone five games without a win to ensure a slow start to their promotion bid.

They were thwarted by Northeast, who is the leading run-scorer in the country with 561, and who hit 15 fours in 336 balls.

While Yorkshire claimed 16 points from their fourth draw, added to a defeat, Glamorgan took 10 from their fourth successive draw.

Glamorgan started the day 127 runs behind, with Ingram 43 and Northeast 46.

The pair ended the day amongst the top three run-scorers in the division having shared a 210 stand – their county’s highest ever fourth-wicket partnership in first-class meetings with Yorkshire. Ingram has 467 runs to his name.

Yorkshire coach Ottis Gibson said: “We’ve spoken about trying to take 20 wickets at Headingley, and away from home, so it’s frustrating on that front but you can’t fault the effort and some good skill from our guys, using every option possible.

“I thought the frontline spinners bowled well, but we’ve got back-up guys who can also take wickets and today it was Adam Lyth, perhaps a little too late. But you have to give Ingram and Northeast a lot of credit.

“Glamorgan had (the use of) two heavy rollers which in England takes the life out of the pitch, maybe we need to get rid of them from county cricket!

“We were driving the game from the first day, so not to get a result is frustrating but we got ourselves in a position to win, we’re playing well enough to win and if we keep doing those things, we’ll eventually find a way to win.”

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