India have pulled out a win out of nowhere to level the series 1-1, but their task of winning the series has become more difficult with Sachin Tendulkar has become the fourth first-choice player to return to India

Sidharth Monga at the Wanderers15-Jan-2011India have pulled out a win out of nowhere to level the series 1-1, but their task of winning the series has become more difficult with Sachin Tendulkar has become the fourth first-choice player to return to India, joining openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, and fast bowler Praveen Kumar. A hamstring injury has ruled Tendulkar out of the series, and Parthiv Patel, the wicketkeeper-batsman, has been named as his replacement. M Vijay is the only specialist opener in the squad currently in South Africa.Dhoni is no alien to such circumstances as India have hardly played cricket with their first-choice XIs over the last two years. “We will have to open with someone,” he said. “I don’t know what’s happening, whether we are getting someone from India [as replacement] or not. The visa will take three days at least, he will take the next flight, and by the time he comes here we will have just one match left. I don’t know who will open.”Dhoni sounded hopeful that Vijay will find some form. “Vijay is looking a bit out of form, but he’s working well in the nets. Form is just a matter of a few strokes. Once you get those few strokes, all of a sudden you feel back in form.”These fitness issues have left Dhoni not demanding too much of his fast bowlers either, with the World Cup just around the corner. He said that right now fitness is more important than form, because there aren’t too many choices, especially in the fast-bowling department.Dhoni said he would need to rotate the fast bowlers in this series because there are a few niggles troubling them. “We will have to see what kind of niggle a bowler is having, and accordingly we will decide,” Dhoni said. “Of course right now we don’t have too many fast bowlers to choose from when it comes to the one-day side. You have two bowlers outside, Ishant and Sreesanth, who have not played a lot of ODI cricket recently. This series is important, but I don’t want any bowler to get an injury just because of over burden. We will try to avoid it because World Cup is big for us, but at the same time this series is important.”Dhoni himself seems to be struggling after getting hit in the shin while keeping. If he becomes unavailable during this series, that will be some trouble because India don’t even have a reserve wicketkeeper here.

South Africa’s World Cup squad feels “more excitement than pressure,” as they go in search of the country’s first piece of ICC silverware in 13 years

Firdose Moonda02-Feb-2011South Africa’s World Cup squad feels “more excitement than pressure,” as they go in search of the country’s first piece of ICC silverware in 13 years. The team is widely regarded as the best never to have a won a World Cup, despite going into every tournament as one of the hot favourites.”In previous years, the squad had a lot of big name players and was even ranked number one in the ODI rankings so there was a lot of expectation,” Hashim Amla told ESPNcricinfo. “There is a little less hype around us this time.”Eleven of the 15 squad members that will travel to this month’s World Cup have never played in the global showpiece before and many of those players will form the core of South Africa’s team. Amla is one of them, and is already regarded as a stalwart in the side, though he has only played 42 ODIs. “I feel like a senior player,” he said. ‘”I haven’t played many matches compared to guys like Graeme [Smith] and Jacques [Kallis] so I still regard every match as a learning experience. I don’t claim as to know everything about one-day cricket but I do feel like senior player.”That feeling may stem from the fact that Amla has had a stunning last nine months in the game, in which he has scored six of his seven ODI centuries. Over that time, he has surged to the top of the ODI batting rankings and carved his own niche in the shorter form of the game, despite being initially painted as someone who could only play Test cricket.Amla said the improvements in his strike rate are not as a result of any major shift in mindset, but more a reflection of his growth as a cricketer. “It helped to play a few Test matches before making it into the one-day side because I got to know my own game. When I started off in the one-day side, it took me a while to find my rhythm.” When he found that groove, he found it perfectly and Amla now boasts an average of 59.88 and a strike rate of close to 94.The Amla that batted in last month’s ODI series against India was the Amla that had come full circle from those first stuttering days in coloured clothing. He scored, by his own admission, two “swashbuckling” fifties before stabilising to end the series with a century. That innings, at Centurion, was near perfect, timed exquisitely and played as though it was set to a script. Amla hopes he can continue in that vein in the World Cup. “I am going to try and strike a balance between being positive upfront by scoring as quickly as I can and making sure I stay at the crease for as long as possible.”Time at the wicket for the top order is vital because South Africa’s soft underbelly, the batting in the middle-to-lower order, was exposed against India. Kallis’ return to full fitness will solve some of the problem but there is still concern over the relative inexperience at number six and seven, and the lack of a big-hitting all-rounder in the mould of Lance Klusener. Amla, however, is certain that the likes of Faf du Plessis and Colin Ingram can do the job. “Someone in the top order should aim to bat through to at least the 40th over so that the lower can capitalise on that. Those guys might not be the same as Albie Morkel or Mark Boucher but they can hit the ball hard, they run well between the wickets and they are relatively unknown to the opposition.”South Africa are banking on the element of surprise with both bat and ball, having included uncapped legspinner Imran Tahir in the squad as well. Amla warned against loading too much pressure on the Pakistani-born player. “We shouldn’t put all our hopes on Imran. He is a quality player with a lot of first-class experience and he should be allowed to settle into the team at this level.”Tahir is one of five spinners that South Africa have at their disposal and although he is expected to make the biggest impact, Amla said that seasoned campaigner Johan Botha may the man who makes headlines. “He has done a great job for us over the years and is a very intelligent bowler. He may not be known as a wicket-taker but he controls the middle portion of an innings and if the runs need to be dried up, he is the go-to man.”Spin and the subcontinent go together like vanilla ice-cream and chocolate sauce and while South Africa are making sure they have enough players who can bowl spin, they are also preparing for many overs of facing spin. “We got a taste of what to expect against India when they rotated many bowlers against us during the one-day series. Spin will play a big role.”South Africa’s once-dodgy record of playing against spin has improved significantly in recent times and although they don’t look obvious favourites for the tournament this time, when Amla describes the players they have at their disposal, they have all the elements to be top contenders. That means that’s even though it’s understated, the pressure to be crowned World Champions does hang over them. It might be why Amla says he is “quite keen to get on the plane and get the tournament started.”

Robin Singh, the former India allrounder, has been appointed coach of the USA’s Under-19 team

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Jan-2011Robin Singh, the former India allrounder, has been appointed coach of the USA’s Under-19 team and is in talks with United States of America Cricket Association (USACA) about taking over the national team as well. He will help the Under-19 team prepare for the ICC Americas Region Division 1 tournament, which begins in February, and replace Sew Sewnarine as coach.He previously coached the IPL franchise Deccan Chargers and is presently involved with the Mumbai Indians. He had also been fielding coach of the Indian team and has played 136 ODIs.

Michael Clarke has backed Michael Hussey to make an immediate impact after being called into Australia’s World Cup squad

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Mar-2011Michael Clarke has backed Michael Hussey to make an immediate impact after being called into Australia’s World Cup squad having recovered from the hamstring injury that forced the selectors to pull him out of the initial party.Hussey has been given his belated chance at the tournament after Doug Bollinger, the left-arm quick, was ruled out with an ankle injury and the management decided to draft in a batsman rather than a like-for-like replacement. Hussey suffered his injury in the first one-day international against England, at Melbourne, in January and underwent surgery on a serious tear.He returned to action recently for Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield and although he only made 19 and 11 against Queensland, Clarke believes his experience and determination will serve him well. “I’ve seen Huss this morning and he was very excited to be here,” Clarke said. “He’s keen as mustard to get a bat in his hands. I think opposition teams will definitely take note Mike Hussey is in our squad and he will definitely play a big part.”Hussey brings in a lot into the team, lot of experience in these conditions. His career in all forms of game is as good as anybody else. His record is unbelievable in one-day cricket and has been successful in sub continent as well. In the past he has shown us, he can go out and win games on his own in any form of the game. So I am very confident that having Hussey around is going to help us.”Australia have been fairly anonymous in the World Cup so far after beginning with thumping victories against Zimbabwe and New Zealand before the marquee clash against Sri Lanka was washed out with less than an innings completed. Now they face the Group A minnows Kenya and Canada in Bangalore with a danger they could be undercooked come the quarter-final stage.However, Clarke, Australia’s vice-captain who has made unbeaten scores of 58 and 24 so far, is happy with the state of the team. “This side is playing pretty good cricket and we definitely need to get better and now we have got this opportunity to relax for some days and this is going to be really important,” he said. “We are happy with the way we have been playing but it is a long way to go in the tournament. We have seen a couple of upsets in the tournament. We won’t be taking Kenya or Canada lightly.”

Jacob Oram said his running catch to dismiss Jacques Kallis and Martin Guptill’s run-out of AB de Villiers were the two key moments that propelled New Zealand to victory in their quarter-final against South Africa

Osman Samiuddin at the Shere Bangla Stadium25-Mar-2011At the centre of a magnificent fielding performance that won New Zealand their quarter-final against South Africa were two moments. The first was an exceptional running catch on the boundary by Jacob Oram that saw the back of an unperturbed and ominous looking Jacques Kallis. The other was Martin Guptill’s run-out of AB de Villiers, a few overs later and just two balls after JP Duminy’s dismissal, in a short passage of play in which was crystallised South Africa’s collapse.Kallis was progressing in typically Kallis-like fashion on 47 when, in the 25th over, he pulled Tim Southee towards deep midwicket. Oram, Man of the Match for his 4 for 39, ran to his left and back towards the boundary rope, and with a little skip, held on to the catch face-high, still running. It looked far more impressive live than on the TV screens. It was the kind of catch that wins a quarter-final.Oram’s only thought when he saw the shot was to run. “The beauty of it was that it wasn’t in the air that long. If it was a real skier where I had 5 or 10 seconds to think about it, I probably would’ve got a little bit scared underneath it.”My only thought was just run, because he did hit it so well. What helped me was just the angle the ball was coming at; with a pull shot like that, it almost curls back into the angle I was running on. So I was running back and across. Thankfully I am 6’6”. I replaced Kane Williamson out there who is about 4’6″; maybe it would have been a one-bounce four if he was out there.”Guptill’s intervention came from midwicket, exploiting a tiny moment’s hesitation between Faff du Plessis and de Villiers. The catch and Guptill’s effort, which ended the most fluent knock of the match, were, Oram said, moments that turned the entire game.Jacob Oram’s running catch of Jacques Kallis started a South African collapse•Getty Images

“My catch [was a turning point], and I’m not just pointing that out because it’s me, but because it broke a partnership that looked like it was starting to build. And the second moment which galvanised us to another level, and put the skids on them, was Martin Guptill running out AB de Villiers. That just seemed to make us all grow a foot taller, and you could see them getting a little worried.”There was a sustained level of excellence in the field throughout the match, from both sides. Daniel Vettori, the New Zealand captain, thought the fielding allowed them to keep the pressure up.”We got a little bit of luck with the Hashim Amla wicket, and there was a great piece of work with Guptill running out de Villiers,” Vettori said. “Those two things, combined with some great bowling and great fielding, allowed us to attack the whole game. The way we bowled and particularly the way we fielded, led by Guptill, probably got us through to the victory.”Another semi-final spot for a side that was stuttering until recently may have surprised others, but not Oram, who believes this is not the end of New Zealand’s run. “Did we ever think we could make it to the semis? Of course we did and we’re not finishing here, hopefully. We didn’t come across here to defeat the minnows in our pool and then lose the quarter-final and go home. Why not go on and win the semi-final and take on the winner of the other semi in Mumbai in a week’s time?”If that eventuality does occur, Oram wouldn’t mind facing Pakistan. “That’s not because we’re scared of India,” he said. “It’s because we’ve played Pakistan in a six-match series at home and we’ve defeated them in Pallekele. So we know them very well, even though they defeated us at home. But if it’s India, bring them on as well.”

ESPNcricinfo previews the IPL match between Mumbai Indians and Delhi Daredevils in Mumbai

The Preview by Abhishek Purohit06-May-2011

Match facts

Saturday, May 7, Mumbai
Start time 2000 (1430 GMT)Can Virender Sehwag do it once again for Delhi?•AFP

Big picture

Virender Sehwag has made 422 runs at a strike-rate of 178.81, the most in this IPL. Sachin Tendulkar is next, with 351 at 113.59. While Tendulkar might well reclaim the orange cap from Sehwag, the gaping difference between the strike-rates also reveals the gulf between Mumbai Indians and Delhi Daredevils. It has taken three outstanding performances from Sehwag to power his struggling side to three of their four wins. Tendulkar’s solidity has been enough for Mumbai’s strong bowling attack to defend par scores. Sehwag has had to be spectacular to make up for a misfiring batting line-up as well as a bowling unit lacking firepower.The three most successful Mumbai bowlers have taken 42 wickets at 6.07 runs per over; Delhi’s top three have 24 at 7.64. Mumbai must be one of the few Twenty20 sides whose batting serves the principal purpose of providing just enough cushion to their bowlers. What some may call a cautious approach has brought them seven wins in nine games, while even a furious churning of the playing XI hasn’t worked for Delhi.The two teams began their season facing each other at Feroz Shah Kotla, where Delhi ran in to Lasith Malinga who shot them out for 95. Their fortunes have followed the pattern of that game, and unless Sehwag can continue to fight adversity with another blinder, tomorrow could see Mumbai extend their stay at the top of the points table.

Form guide (most recent first)

Mumbai Indians: WWLWW (first in points table)
Delhi Daredevils: WLWLL (seventh in points table)

Team talk

Delhi surprisingly left out David Warner for Aaron Finch against Deccan Chargers and he should return tomorrow. They could also consider playing S Nadeem or Roelof van der Merwe as spinning options to add some variety. Apart from that, there should not be too many changes to the XI that played against Deccan.Mumbai’s problem is about dealing with too much of a good thing. Tendulkar and Ambati Rayudu have been so efficient, and Rohit Sharma so effective when required, that the others have hardly been needed. The only time they were, against Rajasthan Royals on a difficult Jaipur surface, they managed 94. That, and the fact that the top order, especially Tendulkar, has preferred accumulation to acceleration, seem to be the only niggles for Mumbai.Predict the playing XIs for this match. Play ESPNcricinfo Team selector.

In the spotlight

Morne Morkel may have not had the impact of a Malinga, but he has been Delhi’s best bowler by quite a distance. The Wankhede Stadium pitch usually offers bounce, and Morkel with his natural short of a good length should enjoy it. Delhi’s chances will depend on how quickly they can get through to the Mumbai middle order, and Morkel will be crucial for that to happen.Munaf Patel has taken as many wickets as Harbhajan Singh, at a slightly better economy-rate. His role as second seamer behind Malinga has gone unnoticed, and as always, Munaf has gone about his job quietly. He has performed both roles admirably, taking wickets when needed as well as keeping batsmen in check. Expect more of the same tomorrow.

Prime numbers

• Lasith Malinga’s strike-rate and average in this IPL are both under ten, and his economy rate is below six
• Mumbai and Delhi are among the four IPL teams who have an overall scoring rate exceeding eight an over

The chatter

“If we go too hard, we can get out for 95 also. We have to decide based on the track.”

Matt Prior said that his team still fancied their chances of sealing the series against Sri Lanka with a game to spare, despite enduring a tough time in the field on the second day

Andrew Miller at Lord's04-Jun-2011England’s centurion, Matt Prior, has said that his team still fancied their chances of sealing the series against Sri Lanka with a game to spare, despite enduring a tough time in the field on the second day at Lord’s. Thanks to an unbeaten century from Tillakaratne Dilshan, Sri Lanka closed the second day on 231 for 1, a feisty response to their total of 82 all out in the second innings in Cardiff.”We’re an honest enough team to know that we didn’t bowl and field as well as we can do, as well as we have done,” said Prior at the close. “Things don’t always go perfectly to plan in Test cricket. But the thing I know about this team and its character is that we’ll come back tomorrow even harder, even better prepared and even more ready and willing to hit the mark again.”The day started well enough for England, with Prior converting his overnight 73 into an impressive 126 from 131 balls, his second Test century at the ground, and his fifth in 42 Tests overall. His performance helped lift England from a precarious 201 for 5 to an imposing 486 all out, although by the close, Dilshan’s first century as Sri Lanka captain had redressed the balance significantly.Asked whether England had expected too little from Sri Lanka in the aftermath of their Cardiff disaster, Prior denied that was the case. “You can’t expect to bowl a team out in 25 overs every time you walk out,” he said. “I think we just need to go back to basics, take stock of what’s happened today – and I’m sure you’ll see an improved bowling and fielding performance tomorrow.”We walked off after our first innings very, very pleased with the score we got. But then Tillakaratne Dilshan came in and played a very good innings, showing great intent on a pretty docile wicket.”Matt Prior’s fifth Test hundred drew him level with the great Alan Knott•PA Photos

England’s attack had a menacing look to it at the start of the Test, with Chris Tremlett, Steven Finn and Stuart Broad all registering between 6’6″ and 6’8″. However, the lofty approach lacked subtlety on a benign wicket, with Finn in particular struggling for line and length. England severely missed the lateral movement that the injured James Anderson could have provided.”You are always going to feel like you’re missing a guy like Jimmy Anderson, because he’s the best swing bowler in the world,” said Prior. “He’s absolute class, and you always want him in your team.”But Finny has come in and is a fantastic bowler in his own right. You saw how many wickets he took in the Ashes and in his short career so far. The line-up as it stands, three big guys and Swanny, is a world-class bowling outfit. We know that, and we back them 100%.”With that in mind, Prior reiterated his faith in his team-mates. “This team keeps surprising itself, keeps pulling things out even when it’s looking ominous,” he said. “To get that score on the board, when we’ve been 20-odd for 3, is a fantastic effort in the first place.”We are not in a bad position and still have a 250-lead. If we do bowl and field well tomorrow, there’s no reason why we can’t get a good first-innings lead. If we bat well again, we’re holding all the cards in this Test match.”On a personal note, Prior’s fifth Test hundred drew him level with Alan Knott, arguably the greatest wicketkeeper-batsman in England’s history, and it was a fact of which he was keenly aware. “It’s something I’m very, very proud of,” he said. “I do keep track of records of other England wicketkeepers from the past, so it’s a nice milestone.The bulk of his runs on the final day came in a 108-run stand for the seventh wicket with Stuart Broad. However, the manner in which he reached three figures was not the most convincing, as four consecutive edges, including a drop at slip by Mahela Jayawardene, carried him from 86 to 99, before a clip to midwicket secured his name on the honour’s board.”The plan is always to take a little moment to get yourself in, but it didn’t really happen … we went from first gear to sixth, which always happens with Broady,” he said. “But in a situation like that, if you’re feeling good you almost just have to go with the flow and ride your luck a little bit – and obviously I was very fortunate through the 90s.”I just thought ‘it’s my day’. Mahela Jayawardene is one of best, if not the best, slip fielders I’ve ever seen, so when he drops you you know you’re on a good thing. You need a bit of luck every now and then, and I had my fair share.”

Gautam Gambhir could miss the limited-overs leg of India’s tour of the West Indies next month following the aggravation of a shoulder injury that was sustained during the World Cup final

Nagraj Gollapudi25-May-2011Gautam Gambhir could miss the limited-overs leg of India’s tour of the West Indies next month following the aggravation of a shoulder injury that was sustained during the World Cup final. Gambhir, named India’s captain for that part of the tour, has been advised four to six weeks’ rest by Andrew Leipus, the Kolkata Knight Riders trainer, and could even miss the subsequent tour of England.If it comes to pass, Gambhir’s absence will leave India without their three best specialist openers – Virender Sehwag has recently undergone shoulder surgery and Sachin Tendulkar has been rested for the short-format games. It will also fuel the debate over the importance given to the IPL vis-a-vis international cricket, and – given that Sehwag also played through the IPL with his injury – raise questions over the responsibility of the BCCI, the IPL franchises and the players.Gambhir played the IPL Eliminator on Wednesday, the same day Leipus wrote to the BCCI. However, Kolkata’s loss to Mumbai Indians has saved Gambhir and the franchise from having to decide on his further participation in the tournament.In his letter, addressed to BCCI secretary N Srinivasan, Leipus – a former India physio – said the player felt acute pain in his right shoulder while landing on it in the field at one point during the World Cup final against Sri Lanka at the Wankhede stadium on April 2. Subsequent scans have now revealed a serious injury that would require him to avoid throwing or batting for four to six weeks.”Gautam arrived in Kolkata at the start of the IPL complaining of a ‘sore shoulder’, the onset of which occurred during the World Cup final,” Leipus’ letter said. “He clearly recollects a fielding incident where he landed on an outstretched arm and felt a catch deep in the shoulder. In the euphoria at the time, his attention was deservedly elsewhere and he didn’t bother telling anyone about it.”

… And a groin injury too

Andrew Leipus’ note to the BCCI also mentioned a chronic groin injury Gambhir has been carrying for two years and suggested the player underwent rehab for both the shoulder and groin problems simultaneously but stressed that he needed “active” and “daily” attention. “Both injuries are chronic and ideally require time away from the stresses of international cricket in order for them to settle and rehabilitate properly. I emphasise, however, that such rehabilitation is active … he would require almost daily professional supervision in order to provide both hands-on manual treatment in addition to the rehabilitation programme.”

Gambhir, he said, informed him of the shoulder pain when he arrived to play the IPL. “His initial complaints were pain in the shoulder and significant reduction of power in his throw. The clinical findings supported the mechanism of the onset of the acute injury, however, he did report having corticosteroid injections on two occasions over the previous few years,” Leipus stated in his report, a copy of which is available with ESPNcricinfo. “Knowledge of this history leads me to suspect that any internal derangement may have been pre-existing and this recent incident (World Cup final) only served to aggravate or progress the injury (i.e. acute on chronic),” Leipus wrote.Accordingly, Leipus said, he initiated a plan for management and rehabilitation, post which Gambhir only reported pain “intermittently”. But during Kolkata’s final group match at Eden Gardens on May 22, against Mumbai Indians, Gambhir winced in pain immediately after sending back a throw to the wicketkeeper from the deep. Leipus confirmed that the throw had “aggravated” the pain. The team then travelled for the Eliminator to Mumbai, where Gambhir consulted a prominent Mumbai-based surgeon and had an MRI scan taken.”Both the doctor and myself believe that he should follow an intensive, supervised and conservative rehabilitation pathway. But for the best outcome, he will need to avoid both throwing and batting for a period of 4-6 weeks. In this regard I would expect that the BCCI medical committee would need to consider the ongoing management of Gautam’s shoulder injury beyond the IPL and the possibility of his missing any immediate future tours until the shoulder is fully rehabilitated,” Leipus said.If Gambhir does indeed sit out that tour, Suresh Raina, appointed vice-captain, is likely to take over the leadership role.

Cobham Oval in Whangarei has become the latest addition to the rota of international cricket venues

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Jun-2011Cobham Oval in Whangarei has become the latest addition to the rota of international cricket venues, benefiting from a push within New Zealand Cricket (NZC) to play Tests at specialist cricket grounds.While limited-overs and Twenty20 matches are largely the preserve of stadiums like Eden Park in Auckland, NZC has pursued the use of more traditional venues for Test cricket in recent times, meaning an increase in the number of Tests for grounds like Wellington’s Basin Reserve.Whangarei’s venue falls neatly within those parameters, with additional upgrade work having been done to appease the ICC match referee Alan Hurst when he made his inspection of the ground earlier this year.The ground was used for its maiden first-class fixture in March 2009, and has hosted eight in total, in addition to a tour match between Pakistan and a New Zealand Invitational XI in January 2011.Gary Bell, the chief executive of Northland Cricket, said the development of the ground had been done with plenty of care.”We are delighted to have gained ICC approval to host international cricket,” said Bell. “A lot of hard work has gone into the ground including creating a separate players’ pavilion with more space and comfort.”One large piece of work was increasing the grass net area and using the soil to reshape the embankment to increase capacity to 5,500. The decision is not only great for Northland Cricket but the region in general with additional visitors attracted to the region once we start hosting events.”New Zealand are scheduled to host Zimbabwe for two Test matches and three ODIs in January 2012.

James Allenby and Mark Wallace scored centuries as Glamorgan staged a remarkable fightback in their County Championship match against Derbyshire at the County Ground

12-Jul-2011
Scorecard
James Allenby and Mark Wallace scored centuries as Glamorgan staged a remarkable fightback in their County Championship match against Derbyshire at the County Ground. They added 217 for the sixth wicket before James Harris and Will Owen shared a last-wicket stand of 121 – the second 10th-wicket century partnership in the match.Allenby made 113, Wallace 104 and Harris and Owen both scored fifties as Glamorgan recovered from 69 for 5 to reach 445, a lead of 85. Glamorgan still had time to remove Wayne Madsen to leave Derbyshire’s second innings on 15 for 1 at the close.The home side would have expected to end the second day in command after they took three wickets for seven runs in five overs with Tony Palladino striking twice. Glamorgan needed 211 to avoid being asked to follow-on but that looked a long way off when half the team were back in the pavilion with the visitors 291 runs behind.Gareth Rees was the first to go when he played across the line and was lbw to Palladino for 26 and although Ben Wright was dropped before he scored, he was caught behind in the next over when driving wildly at Jon Clare.When Palladino cut one back to take the inside edge of Michael Powell’s bat, Glamorgan were in desperate trouble but Allenby and Wallace responded to the crisis by taking the attack to the bowlers. Wallace pulled Greg Smith for his second six to reach fifty off 55 balls three overs before lunch and although Allenby needed 93 balls to get to his half-century, the all-rounder accelerated during an afternoon session that belonged to Glamorgan.He pulled Mark Turner over long leg for six and Wallace cleared the ropes for a third time when Clare dropped short as Derbyshire struggled to stem the flow of runs. The 200-stand came up in only 42 overs and Allenby beat Wallace to his hundred when he cut Smith for his 17th four.Wallace joined him on three figures in the next over but Smith finally broke through when he got one to turn and take the top of off-stump. Allenby followed three overs later when he got a leading edge to point but there was a sharp sting in the tail as Harris (60) and Owen (69) took Glamorgan to a fifth batting point.Both players survived chances to launch an onslaught against the second new ball which took Owen to his maiden fifty, and Harris rounded off an astonishing day by trapping Madsen lbw for a duck.