Moxon revels as Yorkshire hit record-breaking form

Yorkshire 536-8 dec Glamorgan 13

Welcome to Sophia Gardens - the Home of Records. If coach-loads of statisticians and computer nerds were expected for what promised to be a gala for the numerically literate, Glamorgan were disappointed. But there was a good crowd, the Bacon Baguette did record business and mere cricket-lovers could always shut their eyes to the scoreboard and enjoy the play.

After Thursday's cold misery, this was a sparkling May day, one fit for great deeds.The editor of Wisden's Almanack arrived hotfoot, records tumbled regularly but, in the end, not one was big enough for a major revision.

Martyn Moxon played two maidens from Robert Croft, and after 15 minutes' play, in the 100th over, he pushed a single through midwicket off Darren Thomas to pass 323, a record for any Yorkshire wicket against Glamorgan.

At 335 the pair passed the highest opening stand against Glamorgan (Barrie Dudleston and John Steele, for Leicestershire, 1975) and at 351 the highest for Yorkshire since the war (Boycott and Moxon at Worcester in 1985). Michael Vaughan had reached 183 and was on course to overtake the highest individual Yorkshire score against Glamorgan - 197 by Hutton in 1937 - when, carving at the new ball, he fell to a flying right-handed catch by Adrian Dale at cover.

The stand was worth 362 in 399 minutes and Vaughan's innings included 28 boundaries off 314 balls, not a bad entry for either his cv or for chairman Illingworth's notebook.

Yorkshire then tried to force the pace but Croft, switching to the Cathedral Road End, found increasing turn after David Byas had fallen to the persistent Steven Watkin. Wisden's editor, seeing that the famous 555 stand of Holmes and Sutcliffe remained inviolate, set off to seek sensation elsewhere.

The distinction of being the first Tyke to take a double hundred off Glamorgan thus fell to Moxon, who completed the fifth double century of his career before becoming Croft's fourth victim when, after 413 balls and eight hours' batting, he mistimed a pull and was caught at deep fine leg.

Three more departed before Richard Blakey and Darren Gough, who was dropped twice, scored hits, the declaration coming just before 3.15 with Glamorgan being left 46 overs to bat yesterday and needing 387 to avoid a follow- on.

When Hugh Morris, on one, was dropped at first slip off Peter Hartley, the jitters could be sensed. But with a little luck, and the confidence to strike the looser ball, Steve James and Morris guided Glamorgan beyond tea.

With 76 raised and 23 overs negotiated, Glamorgan appeared to have reached safer water when James went to drive a ball from Peter Hartley that may have lifted - Thomas has made one or two fly from the River End - and was caught behind. Two overs later Adrian Dale could not avoid a straighter, similar delivery.