Maiden first-class century for Oli Carter on day 1

A maiden first-class hundred from Oli Carter was the highlight on day one of the LV= Insurance County Championship match between Glamorgan and Sussex in Cardiff as Sussex reached 245 for seven at the close. 

Carter came to the crease with his team in trouble at 29 for two and finished the day on 113 not out. The next highest score was the 55 made by Tom Clark as regular wickets pegged back Sussex’s first innings. 

Andrew Salter bowled 33 overs in the day, conceding just 65 runs, as the Glamorgan seamers rotated from the other end. 

Carter and Henry Crocombe were batting together at the close of play with Sussex still closing in on a second batting point. 

Having put Sussex into to bat Glamorgan looked very dangerous with the new ball as Michael Neser and James Weighell picked up the wickets of Tom Alsop and Tom Haines early on.

An excellent stand of exactly 100 between Clark and Carter took Sussex past the lunch break without any further damage with both looking in solid form. Clark’s form in the County Championship continued as he made another half-century but was eventually dismissed for 55.

Carter moved passed his previous career best of 72 in an innings that showed a lot of maturity for a 20-year-old in just his 10th first class match. Even as wickets fell from the other end he stood firm, reaching his century from 208 deliveries.

 Hogan returned to the attack to claim the wicket of Tim Seifert with a ball that ducked back into the New Zealander to bowl him for 5 as Glamorgan chipped away at the Sussex middle order.

Sussex moved passed 200 to claim their first bonus point but shortly after lost their seventh wicket when Neser took the wicket of Archie Lenham.            

In came young fast-bowler Henry Crocombe and he batted with brilliant maturity, supporting Carter as he made his way to his maiden first-class century. Crocombe face 47 deliveries making 18 to help Carter to see out the final session of the day to leave Sussex on 245/7.

On a pitch that had markedly more bounce in it than the one that was used in the Vitality Blast match in Cardiff on Friday it was still tricky to score freely, which made Carter’s first century even more impressive.

Sussex will return tomorrow hoping to put on as many runs as possible before taking the ball and going to work against Glamorgan’s top order.