Day 1, Close: Surrey 286-4 v Glamorgan
Glamorgan struggled on day one at Cardiff as Zander de Bruyn made a century and Tom Maynard 60 not out against his former club to help the visitors into a strong position.
At tea, with Surrey 166-4, the day was very even but de Bruyn and Tom Maynard added 120 in the evening session as Surrey took command. Glamorgan did have their chances in the afternoon session and they have been made to pay for two dropped catches.
Zander de Bruyn, on this evidence, is a super signing for Surrey. He was watchful and careful in defence and flourishing and expansive in attack. He played some lovely strokes: particularly driving length balls from the spinners. He stood tall and flashed Dean Cosker through the offside. He was also keen to sweep and used the stroke to good effect.
But the innings was far from chanceless. He was nearly run out getting off the mark. He took on Stuart Walters in the covers and was fortune the former Surrey batsmen failed to throw down the stumps.
He was also dropped in the gully on just 11. A sharp chance went to Cosker’s right hand but he failed to cling on. Cosker should have claimed de Bruyn’s wicket as he was dropped for a second time when on 40. A straightforward chance to Mike Powell at point should have been taken as de Bruyn drove loosely.
But after reaching his half century from 112 balls he looked very comfortable. He opened up against the spinners after lunch. He lofted Cosker for six over long on and then pulled him through midwicket for four.
After tea he was excellent and looked the player Surrey have signed to take them to promotion this season. A straight drive off Harris to bring up the century from 196 balls was perhaps his best stroke. He went to the close 109 not out.
A sideshow to the day’s play was the return to the Swalec Stadium of Tom Maynard. The son of former Director of Cricket Matthew, Maynard left the club after his father during the tumultuous winter for Glamorgan.
There was a brief echo of booing as Maynard made his way to the wicket. And he was very nearly out first ball: pushing hard against Cosker. The ball cannoned off bat and pad but flashed past the left hand of Powell at silly point.
Twitchy early on, Maynard took nine balls to get off the mark but then settled and looked very much a player in the Surrey mold – a strokemaker who likes to score quickly. As such he chipped Cosker over long on for two before whipping him past Robert Croft at mid-on for a boundary.
Deep fielders were installed and Maynard looked to punch down the ground as much as possible and played an attractive part in the fifth wicket stand of 122.
He did have his nervy moments. An attempted reverse sweep off Croft – playing his 350th first class game for Glamorgan – saw him survive a huge appeal for leg before.
But it was an innings that sent a message to those that booed him to the wicket. He flicked with elegance and drove with power. His first fifty for Surrey came off 88 balls with five fours and a six.
Steve Davies, on the fringe of the England one-day side, was also on show for Surrey. He played very nicely, using his favoured cut stroke to good effect and shared 82 with de Bruyn. The third wicket stand was very comfortable and Surrey looked to be building a very strong position.
But a needless run out saw Davies depart for 45. de Bruyn pushed into the covers and took on Walters in the covers for the second time. Walters this time found the target at the striker’s end.
Glamorgan then picked up a cheap wicket three overs before tea.
The Surrey captain, Rory Hamilton Brown, drove hard at Cosker and a superb catch was taken by his counterpart Alviro Petersen at first slip: a quick low chance that was taken one handed. Hamilton-Brown had hung around for 37 balls for just two.
There was a tricky period for Maynard to survive until tea but after the interval Surrey began to dominate. They added 120 in the session.
The second new ball produced little for Glamorgan. Wagg engaged in a short-ball battle with Maynard but the batsmen, after top edging one hook for six, coped comfortably and pulled with confidence as Surrey dominated the day.
Glamorgan did enjoy the better of the morning session. James Harris began with five overs for just five runs but it took until the 18th over for a breakthrough.
Dean Cosker was only introduced as an interim change to allow Wagg to change ends. A rudimentary length ball sliding down the leg side produced a leading edge as Gary Wilson tried to turn round the corner. Wagg claimed a simple chance at short midwicket.
It was a bonus breakthrough but reward for Glamorgan’s tight opening with the ball.
Wagg then produced a second wicket shortly before lunch. The winter signing from Derbyshire has an extra bite of aggression. Consecutive bouncers troubled Michael Brown and he gloved the second to Will Bragg at second slip to leave Surrey 63-2.
But de Bruyn and Maynard played innings that can change the game. Their performance has put Surrey in a very strong position.
