Date-stamped : 18 May97 - 06:15 Hostile McCague denied due reward By Charles Randall at Canterbury First day of four: Kent (67-2) trail Glamorgan (279) by 212 SIX wickets from a hostile Martin McCague should have put Kent in command at the St Lawrence Ground yesterday, but it did not quite work out that way. Glamorgan`s tail managed to lever the score upwards to respectability from 108 for six, and much could depend today on Waqar Younis`s form with the ball after his timely 47 with the bat. Worryingly for Glamorgan, the Pakistani showed little of his renowned destructive powers as a fast bowler in the evening, though eventually he removed David Fulton with a top- edged hook, having almost snared him first ball. At times it looked easy at the crease. The left-handed Matthew Walker cut Waqar for two early boundaries down the hill, and Alan Wells pulled him for three fours in a row with disdainful authority. Nevertheless, if he looked merely mortal he deserved sympathy, because he joined Glamorgan last month in the sort of rain, sleet, hail and freezing sunshine rarely encountered in Pakistan. McCague threatened utter destruction at one stage, rapping the prolific Hugh Morris on the hand then bowling him, and finding a rearing snorter for Adrian Dale first ball, which was deflected to third-slip off what, on reflection, was his helmet. A relaid pitch near the top end offered variation in bounce that a fired-up McCague exploited. Steve James, after lingering uneasily for 2.5 hours, had his off stump knocked out and Tony Cottey was gloved. As McCague tired, Kent`s menace subsided, and Robert Croft, Waqar, Darren Thomas - some crisp cover-driving from him - and Steve Watkin mixed up their tactics sensibly against the support bowling. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Croft makes his point By Charles Randall at Canterbury Second day of four: Glamorgan (279) lead Kent (154) by 125 runs KENT drifted towards oblivion, almost by chance, as five wickets by Robert Croft yesterday morning gave Glamorgan a decisive advantage before rain arrived at the St Lawrence ground. It was Glamorgan`s good luck that Croft was given the first over of the day to allow Steve Watkin to change ends. The England off-spinner took a wicket fifth ball and continued for 19 overs until Kent were all out. He bowled beautifully, like a cricketer at the peak of his form, with loop and spin asking questions nearly every ball for batsmen hemmed in by three close catchers. Croft mentioned afterwards he did not think much of having to bowl fill-in overs. "If there`s a chance of taking a wicket, I`m going to take it," the Welshman said, and he was as good as his word. Alan Wells was deceived by one thrown a little higher and the left-handed Nigel Llong was similarly lbw after a couple of no-stroke dress-rehearsals, bowing the knee to a bit of Welsh wizardry. Graham Cowdrey once upper-cut Watkin for six, but he looked less happy against Croft, offering a bat-pad catch, and Matthew Fleming struck a firm low return catch, which Croft accepted tumbling. It was a question of Waqar who? and Watkin was so ineffective that a fill-in over on his behalf amounted to flattery. Croft conceded only two boundaries, one flapped past slip for four and one a slog over midwicket for six, both by Martin McCague. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Wells sets example with a firm hand By Charles Randall at Canterbury Third day of four: Kent (154 & 156-3) need 163 runs to beat Glamorgan (279 & 193) ALAN WELLS was hired by Kent this season to strengthen a side of modest batting pedigree, and his value was illustrated during an entertaining day at the St Lawrence Ground yesterday. He resumes today having hit 84 in 2.5 hours - a typical mixture of calmness and strutting aggression. It was not a day for faint hearts, with Waqar Younis rumbling in at pace and Robert Croft attempting to extend his suffocating first-innings dominance. A target of 319 looked tough, because Steve James`s aggressive 54 had been the only individual fifty to date on an awkard pitch. Wells strolled in amid the wreckage of David Fulton`s innings, the opener having played no stroke at a Waqar delivery that projected his off-stump eight yards backwards. Umpire Chris Balderstone was picking up a bail in the outfield as Wells passed. Not very good for morale, dismissals like that. Yet Wells hit firmly and correctly, his fifty in 65 balls encouraging Matthew Walker and Graham Cowdrey to treat the bowling with growing disdain. In the morning, Glamorgan chased quick runs. James and Adrian Shaw set the tone by sprinting an early four during Fulton`s chase from short-leg. But the innings subsided in a flurry against Matthew Fleming - his four for 28 was a championship best - and against Strang, whose leg-spin was never mastered. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Cosker quashes Kent hopes By Charles Randall at Canterbury Final day of four: Glamorgan (279 & 193) beat Kent (154 & 231) by 87 runs DEAN COSKER inflicted the crucial blow by dismissing Alan Wells in the morning`s second over, and after that it was only a matter of time before Glamorgan wrapped up a deserved victory yesterday. The margin was a whopping 87 runs, which reflected Kent`s inadequacy and appeared to confirm that Glamorgan were a furlong or two better than the 20-1 title shots which the pre-season betting suggested. Glamorgan knew that Wells, 84 overnight, posed the only real threat, so there was much glee when he edged a drive to slip off the first ball he received from Cosker. The England Under-19 left-arm spinner had switched to bowling over the wicket, his angled delivery bit and Wells, having added one run, departed with the score on 161. Cosker then bowled Nigel Llong with a long hop that skidded under the left hander`s violent pull. Kent`s demise followed swiftly as Robert Croft, the senior spinner, and Waqar Younis devoured the remaining five wickets. Perhaps the highlight yesterday was Steve Watkin`s spectacular diving catch at deep square leg, but the memory of Cosker`s spin bowling - mature beyond his years - provided a lingering glow. Glamorgan have established their credentials. Their first three matches have been against strong candidates; Warwickshire were spared a massive defeat by rain, Yorkshire`s weak position was washed out and Kent were very much second best yesterday. Kent go into today`s Sunday league game with six one- day wins out of six, but that hardly compensates for their mediocre start to the four-day campaign. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)