Maynard hits form to lift Glamorgan

Matthew Maynard scored his first century of the season to put Glamorgan into a strong position on the first day of their CricInfo Championship clash with Lancashire at Colwyn Bay.

The former county captain has struggled for form for most of the 2001 season but produced a vintage knock in the sunshine of north Wales.

His century - his first at Colwyn Bay - came off 136 balls with two sixes and 15 fours, but he had a let-off on 77 when Joe Scuderi bowled him with a no-ball.

Maynard eventually perished for 145, ending a three-and-a-half-hour stay and a 166 partnership with stand-in skipper Adrian Dale of 166 in 41 overs.

Much then depended on Dale, especially as he lost Keith Newell, Mark Wallace and Darren Thomas in fairly quick succession after tea.

By the close, Glamorgan had reached 386-7 off 105 overs with Dale unbeaten on 92.

Earlier Jimmy Maher fell seven short of scoring 500 runs in five innings before being stumped by Warren Hegg off Gary Keedy.

The Welsh county got off to a flying start thanks to openers Maher and Ian Thomas, who was deputising for injured skipper Steve James.

But at 84-0 Thomas was caught at first slip by Ryan Driver off Glenn Chapple, who finally got his man after having him dropped on 19 and 31 in the space of 11 balls.

Maher carried on a purple patch of 433 runs in his previous four innings by scoring his fifth consecutive half-century from 71 balls with eight fours.

Just after lunch the out-of-form Mike Powell was caught at slip off Andrew Flintoff as Glamorgan slipped to 167-3.