Cricket

Glamorgan's dominance continued on day three of their Vitality County Championship clash against Derbyshire, setting a formidable target of 401 for the visitors. Chris Cooke's unbeaten 126 anchored Glamorgan's innings, supported by James Harris' 61* and Dan Douthwaite's 32.Derbyshire's bowlers struggled to contain Glamorgan's batsmen, with only Sam Conners managing to break through. Mason Crane, who had come in as a nightwatchman, provided some resistance with a 45-run stand with Colin Ingram. However, Ingram's run-out and Douthwaite's dismissal to Thomson's bowling paved the way for Cooke and Harris to consolidate Glamorgan's position.Cooke, who missed out on batting during Glamorgan's record-breaking efforts at Lord's, made the most of his opportunity, reaching his 13th first-class century. Harris joined him in a 116-run partnership, eclipsing the previous highest stand of the match.Thomson, who had taken five wickets in the first innings, continued to be a threat, finishing with career-best match figures of 12 for 201. However, Glamorgan's declaration set Derbyshire a daunting target.In the 12 overs bowled before the close, Derbyshire reached 40 for one, with David Lloyd and Luis Reece unbeaten. With the ball still turning on the pitch, much will depend on Mason Crane's performance on the final day. Glamorgan will need nine wickets to secure victory, while Derbyshire faces an uphill battle to chase down the target.

Derbyshire's Alex Thomson delivered a career-defining performance on the opening day of their Vitality County Championship clash against Glamorgan in Cardiff, claiming a remarkable seven wickets to restrict the hosts to 237 all out.Thomson's exceptional bowling display justified Derbyshire's decision to insert Glamorgan into bat on a sunny day. The New Zealand international Blair Tickner also played a crucial role, dismissing Billy Root and Sam Northeast early on.Glamorgan's top scorer was Kiran Carlson, who contributed a valuable 74. However, regular wickets throughout the day prevented the home side from building substantial partnerships. The highest partnership they managed was 60 between Carlson and Zain-ul-Hassan.As the Glamorgan innings progressed, Thomson's spin bowling became increasingly effective. He induced a flashy drive from Colin Ingram, had Chris Cooke brilliantly caught at leg slip, and dismissed Dan Douthwaite with a low catch off his own bowling.Thomson's relentless pressure continued, as he bowled James Harris for just 4 and Mason Crane for 13. His 7 for 65 surpassed his previous career best of 6 for 138 and became the best return for a Derbyshire spinner since Geoff Miller's 8 for 70 in 1982.Derbyshire faced 16 overs before the close, reaching 46 for 1. Luis Reece was the only batsman dismissed, leaving Derbyshire 191 runs behind Glamorgan.The pitch at Cardiff suggests that this match could be a closely contested affair. Derbyshire will be buoyed by Thomson's heroics, while Glamorgan will need to find a way to counter his spin threat.