Glamorgan coach Maynard defends declaration decision and hails 'faultless' Northants batting

Matthew Maynard praised Ricardo Vasconcelos and Rob Keogh for their 'faultless' batting following his side's seven-wicket LV= Insurance County Championship defeat to Northants.
Glamorgan coach Matthew MaynardGlamorgan coach Matthew Maynard
Glamorgan coach Matthew Maynard

And the Glamorgan head coach defended his team's decision to set Northants what proved to be a manageable a target with their declaration before lunch on day four.

The Welsh side had been the better team for the majority of the previous three days, and at 311 for five were well set to bat Northants out of the game.

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But they decided to gamble to give themselves a chance of claiming victory, by dangling a run-chase carrot in front of David Ripley's men.

Northants having to chase 355 in a minimum of 79 overs was still a big ask, but thanks to big centuries from Vasconcelos (185no) and Keogh (126) they did it with some comfort, getting home with more than six overs to spare.

The decision to declare and open the game up will no doubt be scrutinised and criticised by the Glamorgan faithful, but Maynard insists what happened to his players will serve them in good stead in the long run.

“The boys are bitterly disappointed in there," said the former England batsman after the match.

"We played fantastic cricket for three and a bit days.

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“We didn’t believe if we had batted until lunch and batted them out the game that there was enough in the wicket to take 10 wickets in 70-odd overs.

“We set a challenging target but also knew it would be challenging for our bowlers as well.

“We came up against two guys who played faultlessly.

"They didn’t give any opportunities, no close lbw shouts, no nothing. They batted superbly, the both of them.

“We could have bowled better and fielded better, have no doubt about it, but I liked the way we are going with this group of players.

“We want to challenge them – we could have played out for a draw but I don’t think anyone learns anything from that.

"Down the road it will serve us in good purpose.”