Robinson takes four wickets but Carlson hundred sees Glamorgan take match to final day

Kiran Carlson scored his second hundred of the match as Glamorgan brought themselves back into the contest against Sussex in the LV=Insurance County Championship.

Sussex finished their first innings on 481 all out, 196 runs ahead of Glamorgan. As in the first innings of this match, Glamorgan’s top order struggled but Carlson came to the rescue once again.

Ollie Robinson was a class apart, claiming four for 59, but Carlson’s 129 means that Glamorgan go into the last day leading by 62 runs with five second innings wickets in hand.

It took just three balls to wrap up the Sussex first innings with Robinson dismissed for 67 with no runs added to the overnight score.

With Glamorgan having a large hill to climb to bring themselves back into this match they wanted a strong start from their top order. Robinson prevented that from happening, claiming three LBW dismissals before lunch. With Henry Crocombe chipping in with an LBW of his own, Glamorgan found themselves four wickets down for 95, still 101 behind.

Our wickets this morning... 🔥

🎯 @OllieRobinson25 ✘ @Henry_Crocombe 🎯 pic.twitter.com/j1cCZqMzxY

— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) April 17, 2021

It was then that Carlson stepped up. He had finished undefeated on 127 in the first innings, and he cruised to another century, this one coming from just 115 balls. While Carlson was finding things easy the same could not be said for the rest of the Glamorgan top order with Chris Cooke lucky to survive when he was dropped on three off the bowling of Jack Carson.

Cooke departed for 12 when he feathered an edge to Ben Brown off the impressive Robinson to leave Glamorgan 150 for five. It was then that Carlson found some support from Calum Taylor as they took Glamorgan into the lead.

BIG wicket and brilliant reactions! ⚡️

The perfect start to the evening session as @OllieRobinson25 and @Ben_Brown26 combine to take the fifth Glamorgan wicket 👏 pic.twitter.com/mHORSIAr6M

— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) April 17, 2021

With Carlson and Taylor looking untroubled by seam, Sussex turned to the spin of Carson and Delray Rawlins to see them to the new ball and they were creating chances. Carson was unlucky not to claim the wicket of Taylor when another chance went down at first slip.

Robinson looked dangerous with the new ball but Carlson and Taylor stood firm, taking their partnership past the 100 mark to reach the close with Glamorgan on 258 for five heading into the final day. 

Sussex head coach, Ian Salisbury said: "Well played to the young lad [Carlson], he played really well today. We haven’t got him out yet! He has played really well, really pleased for him. It just shows that you can bat on this wicket. Obviously we got a big score, we didn’t expect them to roll over.

"After last week they have got some confidence. Ultimately they are going into day four at 62 for five.

On Ollie Robinson, Salisbury said: "He is pretty decent isn’t he! He is an outstanding bowler, he has proven that now for a few seasons. All he can do if he wants to play for England is to keep doing performances like that. And at the moment he looks, I would say, Test match standard. He is a fantastic bowler."

Glamorgan captain, Chris Cooke added: "I think it was a pretty good day for us. Kiran played unbelievably well and given us a bit of hope for tomorrow so we just need to keep fighting.

"I think it is just having a good positive game plan which Kiran has done all game and all season so far, looking to score and be positive. It can be quite difficult to score at times, but you have just got to stick in and you will get rewards.

"Carlson has played beautifully, and he deserves all the accolades, he has worked really hard this winter. He batted three for us last year and he got a few good balls but he has come back really strong and he is looking the real deal now."

Listen to Ian Salisbury's full interview with Adrian Harms here:

Watch extended highlights of day three here: