County Championship: Sanderson puts Northants on top against Glamorgan

Ben Sanderson has been Northants' top Championship wicket-taker in five of the last eight seasons

Northants made the most of winning the toss in bowler-friendly conditions as they restricted Glamorgan to 203 for seven on a rain-hit day.

Ben Sanderson (3-70), Chris Tremain and Raphy Weatherall combined to reduce the visitors to 27-4 inside 11 overs.

But the experienced Colin Ingram (69 not out) led a fightback in partnership with Chris Cooke (28) and Dan Douthwaite (50).

A late start, showers and bad light cut the day to 56.1 overs.

With the return of the Dukes ball to help the seamers, Northants, who restored Ricardo Vasconcelos and George Bartlett to their team, had no hesitation in choosing to bowl first.

Glamorgan were quickly on the slide as Zain Ul Hassan edged Tremain behind for one while Billy Root was trapped lbw by Sanderson for five.

Sanderson struck again when Sam Northeast (13) did not get on top of a forcing short and sliced to slip, while teenage prospect Weatherall produced a fine delivery in his first over to bowl Kiran Carlson for seven, the ball swinging away from a defensive push.

Ingram and Cooke dug in despite the interruptions, playing positively where possible, with Ingram belting Weatherall for a violent six over square leg to bring up 50.

But conditions were not easy underneath glowering skies as the rain arrived again in mid-afternoon and frozen spectators headed for home.

The weather cleared up for a long evening session, the sun making a surprise cameo appearance, but Cooke edged Sanderson to slip soon after the resumption after a stand of 69 with Ingram.

Douthwaite took up the reins as he dominated a partnership of 74 with Ingram, pummelling some meaty boundaries as Glamorgan enjoyed their best period of the day.

But immediately after reaching 50, Douthwaite was pinned leg-before by Weatherall and James Harris quickly went the same way to Luke Procter as Northants wrestled back the initiative.

Mason Crane stayed with Ingram to take his side past 200 and salvage some respectability from the day for the visitors.

Glamorgan included Hampshire seam bowler Brad Wheal, who has played under the Welsh county's coach Grant Bradburn for Scotland, on a temporary loan.

Northants coach John Sadler told BBC Radio Northampton:

"The lads have been class, we bowled really well and put them under pressure though Glamorgan got a good partnership going.

"The bowlers were smiling in practice (to have the Dukes ball back), and it makes for a good game with the ball swinging a bit. We're going to leave a bit more grass on the wickets to encourage some carry and give our seamers every chance to take 20 wickets.

"Ben Sanderson was magnificent, relentless, keeps asking questions every ball and hopefully he'll get another couple for a five-for. Raphy's first wicket (Carlson) was a belter, it would have got any batter in the world out and he's going to be a very very good cricketer."

Glamorgan's Colin Ingram told BBC Sport Wales:

"I think we ended the day about even, though it was tricky being stuck in on the first green wicket of the season.

"They bowled nicely but we had a late afternoon recovery, I thought Dan Douthwaite batted beautifully with a counter-punch and Mason Crane batted well, so hopefully we can keep building.

"It was a challenge, but I used to bat three so I looked at it that way (coming in early) and tried to take opportunities to score. I rode my luck but I was happy with the last two hours on a tricky old day, I'm enjoying my new role at five.

"In the first couple of weeks, the wickets were really flat, there was enough in the pitch today and a Kookaburra (ball) would have nipped as well, but there was more swing as well which kept us in our box."