County Championship: Chris Cooke ton puts Glamorgan on top against Derbyshire

This is Chris Cooke's testimonial year with Glamorgan, for whom he has played since 2011

Chris Cooke's century put Glamorgan in a strong position against Derbyshire as the visitors ended day three needing 361 to win, or to survive 96 overs.

Resuming on 74-4, Colin Ingram's 51 gave the Welsh county early impetus before his run-out left them 136-6.

But Cooke put on stands of 109 and 116 with Dan Douthwaite (32) and James Harris (61) as Glamorgan took charge.

Cooke was unbeaten on 126 when Glamorgan declared on 361-7, with Derbyshire reaching 40-1 at the close.

In sharp contrast to the bat-dominated encounters elsewhere in the County Championship this weekend, this had been an intriguing low-scoring affair which had oscillated between the two sides.

But this was the first day with one team firmly on top, as Glamorgan took advantage of a pitch which seemed to flatten after turning sharply for the spinners during the first two days.

Starting the third day with a lead of 113, Glamorgan added 45 for the fifth wicket before night-watchman Mason Crane was trapped lbw by Alex Thomson for a useful 19.

Ingram brought up his half-century with a handsome drive off Zak Chappell but, without facing another ball, he got himself run out in the next over after setting off for an ill-judged single from a Thomson delivery to Cooke.

That left Glamorgan 136-6 but Glamorgan recovered thanks to a partnership of 109 between Cooke and Douthwaite.

Thomson then had Douthwaite caught to complete a second five-wicket haul of the match in a marathon spell of off-spin.

Harris was the next to play a supporting role to Cooke, helping the wicketkeeper reach three figures off 173 balls - the 1,000th first-class century in Glamorgan's history.

Glamorgan kept batting well into the evening session before eventually declaring on 361-7 while both sets of players were off the field for a brief rain delay.

When they returned, Harris claimed the first wicket of Derbyshire's second innings as he dismissed Harry Came lbw for three but, with the visitors 40-1, bad light brought play to a slightly premature end.

Glamorgan's Chris Cooke told BBC Sport Wales:

"It was a bit tricky early on, and the run-out wasn't ideal, but we showed a lot of attrition, batted nicely, and it was nice to get those two big partnerships. All in all, a really good day.

"The ball got softer, the Kookaburra does tend to do that, and the wicket seemed to flatten out, so it was just about recognising the moments when the ball did a bit.

"It's the most I've seen it spin here in 10 years. I'm not sure whether that's down to the Kookaburra, but it's a great contest. It's absorbing. It's about communicating with your partner what the pitch is doing in that moment.

"The ball's coming out beautifully for Mason Crane. It's nice to keep to him and see all his tricks. Hopefully he can get some poles."

Derbyshire batting coach Ben Smith told BBC Radio Derby;

"It's an exciting dressing room going into a last day. There's a lot of runs to score, but we feel the pitch has changed slightly and it looked as though there was a lot more toil for the bowlers. That would give us some encouragement

"Alex Thomson has been brilliant. They had to claw the ball out of his hand to give him a break. He deserves everything he's got.

"There's a massive opportunity for two or three players to have a good day so if any of those batters get into a position to take the game away from Glamorgan, I'm more than happy for them to do that. Let's hope the weather stays away."