image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency
- the author Nick Webb
- role, BBC Sport Wales at Sophia Gardens
Vitality County Championship Division Two, Sophia Gardens, (Day Two)
Sussex 278: Hudson-Prentice 48; Hamza 4-70, Harris 4-93
Glamorgan: 411-9 (102 overs): Ingram 170, Carlson 148; Signs 5-101
Glamorgan (7pts) lead Sussex (4pts) by 133 runs with one first innings wicket to spare
Colin Ingram and Kieran Carlson both hit brilliant centuries as Glamorgan posted 411-9 and 133 against First Division leaders Sussex.
The pair’s fifth-wicket stand of 315 was a Glamorgan record, beating the 307 posted by Carlson and Chris Cook in 2021.
A good early spell from West Indies paceman Jayden Sales reduced Glamorgan to 41-4.
But Ingram (170) and Carlson (148) dominated most of the day before a late flurry of wickets.
It was largely a surprise battle from Sussex, whose bowling attack entered the match with far more impressive statistics of the season, but was largely dependent on the ferocity of Sales, who took five for 101.
Meanwhile, Ingram’s stellar performance will raise questions over the selection of veteran South African left-arm Pakistani pacer Mir Hamzah for Glamorgan with the imminent arrival of Australian Marnus Labuschagne to leave Glamorgan with three overseas players vying for two spots.
Sales started the day with a ferocious burst, removing Billy Root, to whom big inswinger, night watchman Mason Crane took a short ball past keeper John Simpson and skipper Sam North East, who edged another demanding delivery behind.
But from 41-4 South Africa’s veteran left-hander Ingram mounted a counter-attack as the other visiting bowlers were bowled in tight spells without the same threat, not helped by the absence of Jack Carson, sidelined with a back ailment.
Ingram hit left-arm spinner James Coles for a six off 50 off 65 balls, while Carlson made a relatively subdued start to his aggressive standards, but two missed opportunities on 9 and 62 posed the biggest risk.
Sales’ second spell was delayed until 30 minutes after lunch, by which time the partnership was in full swing and Glamorgan had added another 135 runs in a sun-drenched afternoon session with barely a discernible chance.
Carlson stepped it up as his hundred came off 142 balls, ahead of Ingram’s 147 deliveries for his third hundred of the season, Sussex establishing periods of relative calm only for a flurry of boundaries to follow with the new ball.
In the end, Sayles forced Carlson to depart under Ollie Carter, who hit 21 fours and faced 217 deliveries.
Danny Lamb first removed Chris Cook, caught on the leg side, before dismissing Ingram lbw with 23 fours and three sixes as the game changed dramatically once more.
James Harris (26) struck with positive intent to earn Glamorgan a fourth-wicket score before Sales completed his five-wicket haul as the teams wait to see if the worsening weather forecast affects the second half of the match.
Glamorgan’s Colin Ingram told BBC Sport Wales:
“They came at us with the new ball and put pressure on us, but I really enjoyed my partnership with Kieran as we tried to counter-attack while the ball was still heavy, got a few away and it started to turn.
“I really enjoyed (the season), I was going to do the first part and then Marnus on the field, so I knew it was a limited opportunity, but moving to number five was very good for me too. To play more responsibly.
We want a team that’s looking to win games, so if that’s what I need, great, but if there’s another combination (of Mariners) the team is looking at, then that’s fine too. (Selection) is part of the game, I want to play well and that’s my main concern.”
Sussex bowler Jayden Sills told BBC Sussex Sport:
“My rhythm felt really good this morning, but in the middle it went, I was disappointed with myself, but I’m still happy to get five and put the team in a good position.
Colin Ingram is a great batsman around the world so it’s not easy to face someone like him, it was a big challenge for me because he and Karlsson played really well.
“Hopefully the West Indies selectors will see that and I’ll be in the squad (to face England) and in the starting eleven for the first Test.”
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