Yorkshire beat Glamorgan to boost promotion bid
Matthew Fisher took two of the three wickets to fall on the final day
- Published
Vitality County Championship Division Two, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff (day four)
Yorkshire 361 & 273: Bean 57, Lyth 55; Harris 5-73, Van der Gugten 3-62
Glamorgan 239 & 209: Tribe 58, Harris 49; Coad 4-51, Fisher 3-49
Yorkshire (22 pts) beat Glamorgan (3 pts) by 186 runs
Yorkshire strengthened their Division Two promotion position as they sped to a massive 186-run victory over Glamorgan, sealing the win an hour into the final day.
Second-placed Yorkshire collected 22 points, the same as nearest challengers Middlesex, to remain 15 points ahead with one round left.
Matthew Fisher and Jordan Thompson took final-day wickets as Glamorgan were bowled out for 209, with 20-year-old opener Asa Tribe making 58.
Glamorgan have suffered three defeats in four Championship matches since qualifying for Sunday's One Day Cup final against Somerset.
The first eight overs of day four were wicketless before Fisher ended Tribe's lengthy vigil after a breakthrough knock, ripping out his off stump, and then having Andy Gorvin lbw fourth ball.
Championship debutant Ben Morris glanced a boundary to register his first senior red-ball runs before James Harris decided to have some fun, blasting 14 runs off a George Hill over before being bowled for 49, heaving at Thompson.
Yorkshire need just a draw and two bonus points from their final Championship match at home to Northants starting on Thursday, 26 September, while Glamorgan have their key 50-over clash at Trent Bridge on Sunday to try to redeem a disappointing month.
Yorkshire coach Ottis Gibson told BBC West Yorkshire Sport:
“We played well, this was an important week for us with the way Sussex keep winning so we had to try to win. After we lost the toss and got put in, we’re fully deserving of our win.
“It’s about the team, that’s what I’ve been championing for three days. It’s the way we play together, there were important runs at the back end of the innings, with Jonny Tattersall’s runs and leadership.
“We’ve been begging for Matthew Fisher and Ben Coad to be fit together for a time, so to have those two taking the new ball, you know they’ll challenge the opposition and take wickets.
“We played two spinners because we thought the pitch might spin, it didn’t work out that but to have that option is good. The way the team has operated, you leave a guy out and nobody’s grumbling because everyone’s happy with the environment at the minute.”
Glamorgan coach Grant Bradburn told BBC Sport Wales:
“It’s really gutting but we’ll take the loss on the chin, we’ve been up against really good teams the last couple of weeks (Sussex and Yorkshire), and we haven’t quite been sharp enough in all aspects.
“We don’t mind losing if we’re putting ourselves in contention to win, it’s going to take a little bit more time than I thought to change that mindset but the intention and the buy-in is there.”
Batter Asa Tribe added:
“To get my first 50 was key for me, and I can take confidence going into the next game. Everyone is very supportive back over there at home in Jersey, and I’ve had some nice messages.
“Just being around the first-team environment is key, picking up bits from other players (in the One Day Cup), and it’s helped in transferring those skills into the red-ball stuff.”