Selectors are caught off guard by Michael Neser’s four-wicket haul in the Ashes
With a tremendously excellent four-wicket performance for Glamorgan in their LV= Insurance County Championship match against Worcestershire in Cardiff, Michael Neser furthered his argument for being included in the Australian team this summer.
On a sluggish ground and wet morning, Micheal Neser and Timm van der Gugten tore through the Worcestershire top order before James Harris claimed four of his own wickets as the guests were bowled out for 109.
On a day that swung and seamed the entire time, the Glamorgan top order also found batting difficult. The home team’s runs from David Lloyd and Marnus Labuschagne were the high point on a day where the bowlers were in charge as they reached the close on 177 for six.
When Australia’s top Ashes contender, Labuschagne, inside-edged onto his stumps for 42, it was Matthew Waite, in his first full season since leaving Yorkshire, who earned the major prize.
With 16 wickets falling on the first day, Glamorgan had a 68-run lead in the first innings. The lead is increasing, and it might end up winning the game unless the surface flattens down like it has in Cardiff this season in other games.
Van der Gugten and Neser were in top form right away, creating havoc with the new ball to leave the visitors with a score of 25 to 5. When van der Gugten trapped Taylor Cornall in the lbw position, he was the first to perish. In the span of three balls, Neser eliminated Ed Pollock and Jack Haynes by having both batters caught in the cordon.
Labuschagne smartly grabbed Pakistani international Azhar Ali off van der Gugten in the slips. Labuschagne clung to the catch with one hand as it was made quickly and low. Brett D’Oliveira, the captain of Worcestershire, was caught LBW after being hit with an inswinger from Neser.
When Neser and van der Gugten left the attack, there could have been some hope for relief, but James Harris’ opening delivery dismissed Adam Hose for a duck after 15 balls, ending any chance of relief.
Hose attempted to slam the larger ball through the covers, but an inside edge caused the ball to land on his stumps, giving Worcestershire 34 for six.
“A very weird day,”
remarked Worcestershire’s assistat coach, Kadeer Ali.
“Obviously we were disappointing with the bat.”
Gareth Roderick and Matthew Waite then formed the first significant partnership of the Worcestershire innings, helping their team reach 66 for six at the break. After the break, Neser came back to break the tie, but Roderick and Joe Leach increased the score above 100.
With Worcestershire 109 all out, James Harris’ three-wicket burst, the last two of which fell off successive deliveries, put an end to the game. When Harris bowls in the second innings, he will have three strikeouts.
Eddie Byrom was quickly dismissed by Joe Leach, giving the visitors the ideal start, although Worcestershire’s fielding was shoddy in the first few overs. Both Lloyd and Labuschagne were killed by Jack Haynes in the slip cordon. Before Lloyd was dismissed for 48, his highest score of the season thus far, by Leach, the two Glamorgan hitters put up a stand of 81 runs.
The turning point for Worcestershire occurred following the tea break. When Lloyd was out, Glamorgan had a score of 88 for two and appeared to be coasting to a sizable first-inning advantage.
However, Worcestershire came back into the game with a quick four-wicket haul for just 21 runs, with Adam Finch taking three for 39 as the best bowler of the innings.