CARDIFF — Glamorgan remain firm favourites to secure victory over Lancashire despite a defiant century from Luke Wells, who kept his side’s slim hopes alive on day three at Sophia Gardens. Chasing a mammoth target of 473, Lancashire closed on 226-5, still 247 runs adrift, after Wells’ brutal 101 off 133 balls provided a glimmer of resistance.
The day began with Glamorgan resuming their second innings at 343-5, building on their first-innings lead of 129. Sam Northeast, who had already struck a majestic 186 in the first innings, added another 84 before falling to Jack Morley, while Kiran Carlson’s aggressive 112 ensured the hosts set Lancashire a daunting chase. "It was a proper team effort," said Carlson. "Sam set the tone, and we just kept building pressure."
Wells Fights Back for Lancashire
Facing a near-impossible task, Lancashire needed a strong start, but openers Keaton Jennings and Wells had to weather a disciplined Glamorgan attack. Jennings fell for 23, trapped lbw by Jamie McIlroy, but Wells took the attack to the bowlers, striking 14 fours and two sixes in his counter-punching innings. "Luke played brilliantly," said Lancashire coach Glen Chapple. "He gave us a chance, but we’ve still got a mountain to climb."
Wells’ century was the highlight of Lancashire’s reply, but his dismissal to Zain-ul-Hassan triggered a mini-collapse. Josh Bohannon (31) and George Bell (12) fell in quick succession, leaving the visitors at 187-5 before Tom Bruce (28*) and George Balderson (13*) steadied the ship. "We’re not out of it yet," insisted Wells. "If we can bat the first session tomorrow without losing wickets, anything’s possible."
Glamorgan’s Dominant Position
Glamorgan’s commanding position was built on the back of two key performances:
- Sam Northeast’s twin centuries – The former Kent batsman followed his first-innings 186 with a composed 84 in the second, underlining his class.
- Kiran Carlson’s aggressive 112 – The skipper’s rapid hundred, including 15 fours and two sixes, accelerated Glamorgan’s lead.
- Bowling discipline – McIlroy (2-42) and ul-Hassan (2-35) kept Lancashire under constant pressure.
Glamorgan coach Matthew Maynard praised his side’s ruthlessness: "We knew Lancashire would fight, but we’ve put ourselves in a great position. The key now is to stay patient and take those last five wickets early tomorrow."
Day Four Outlook
With Lancashire needing another 247 runs and only five wickets remaining, Glamorgan are heavy favourites to wrap up victory on the final day. However, cricket has seen remarkable comebacks before, and Lancashire’s lower order will look to dig in. "We’ve seen crazier things happen," said Wells. "If we can get a partnership going, who knows?"
The weather forecast for Cardiff suggests clear skies, meaning no interruptions are expected. Glamorgan will likely rely on their spinners, Mason Crane and ul-Hassan, to exploit any wear in the pitch, while Lancashire’s tailenders must show resilience.
Conclusion
Despite Wells’ heroics, Lancashire face an uphill battle to salvage anything from this match. Glamorgan’s dominance with bat and ball has put them in pole position, and only a miraculous rearguard action can deny them victory. As Maynard put it: "We’ve done the hard work. Now it’s about finishing the job."