As the 2023 County Championship heads towards a break for the Vitality Blast (which kicked off yesterday, overlapping with this round of matches), the match between Sussex and Glamorgan is heading towards a draw, but today’s action has seen several Glamorgan records go and one all time first class record. The Glamorgan innings is still ongoing at the moment.
THE MORNING SESSION
Kiran Carlson was sixth out, having reached a career best 192, and when Chris Cooke also fell in the morning session it looked like Sussex would have a gettable target. However, Michael Neser and Timm van der Gugten saw Glamorgan through to lunch with no further loss.
THE AFTERNOON SESSION
It has been since lunch that the assault on the record books has been happening, spearheaded by Neser, supported first by Van der Gugten, then by James Harris and now by number 11 Jamie McIlroy. As I write this Neser has completed his maiden Glamorgan century and brought Glamorgan’s score past 700. The first class record came when Glamorgan reached 675, 552 more than the first innings score, relegating Barbados (175 and 726-7), Middlesex (83 and 634) and Pakistan (106 and 657-8) to joint second in this category with a 551 differential, though Pakistan still hold the test record, theirs having happened against West Indies. Glamorgan have beaten their previous record against Sussex, though their overall record, against Leicestershire last season is probably out of their reach at 795. There are some mitigating factors for Sussex – Ollie Robinson has an ankle problem and has not been on the field during this innings, and regular skipper Pujara has a stiff neck and is likewise off the field, Tom Alsop leading the side in his absence. Nonetheless, Glamorgan’s response to facing a deficit of 358 on first innings has been utterly extraordinary. Sussex will be recording a fifth successive draw after coach Farbrace had said they would always go for a win.
PHOTOGRAPHS
My usual sign off…
aspiblog 
Kind of you to say there are mitigating factors. As you know Sussex are the county I follow and my view is much harsher. For me the reality is for a side struggling to take wickets it was a flawed strategy to drop McAndrew to bring in Smith. I see no place for Smith in the wider game whatsoever so as you can imagine I never wanted him at Sussex. Fortunately it is now over and hopefully he never darkens Eaton Road again.
With few exceptions Sussex have not been well served by Australians, Gillespie was a disaster as coach, Travis ‘18.30’ Head little better and all Smith has done is unbalance the side. Okay that is arguably not Smith’s fault, but I’m not claiming to be rational here. The exceptions; Tony Dodemaide was a whole hearted cricketer, I recall Di Venuto gave it a good enough go and Jessica Head was our player of 2022!
Clive
I agree that Smith was a pooe signing and has unbakanced the side. However the loss if Robinson’s bowling and Pujara’s captaincy (Alsop made some idd decisions) cannot be entirely discounted.