Colin Ingram’s landmark knock keeps Glamorgan’s promotion charge alive after Northants draw

Colin Ingram once again proved the backbone of Glamorgan’s batting order, passing 1,000 first-class runs for the season as his side secured a hard-fought draw with Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.

The 39-year-old South African, already within touching distance of 10,000 career first-class runs, made a fluent 55 in Glamorgan’s second innings before falling in contentious fashion. His knock helped the Welsh county close on 241-7 and claim 15 points from the fixture, boosting their push for promotion from Division Two.

With heavy rain wiping out 70 overs on the third day, the game was always heading for stalemate. But Glamorgan will take heart from the result, which moves them three points further clear of promotion rivals Derbyshire and Middlesex. They now sit second in the table on 180 points, 27 ahead of Derbyshire in third.

Northamptonshire had earlier declared overnight on 413-9, still 54 behind, after Saif Zaib (145), Luke Procter (67) and Ricardo Vasconcelos (50) gave their innings substance. Glamorgan’s Mason Crane took five wickets but could not prevent a hefty reply.

Any hopes Northants had of forcing a victory quickly dimmed when Glamorgan’s top order stood firm on the final day. Zain Ul Hassan departed cheaply, bowled by Procter, while Asa Tribe – the 19-year-old who struck his maiden double-century in the first innings – fell for 24. Sam Northeast edged Justin Broad behind for 20 as the hosts sensed an opening.

Enter Ingram. He survived one scare when a high catch was spilled in the deep, before promptly striking two boundaries to underline his intent. His assured strokeplay brought up a half-century off 66 deliveries and took him past the 1,000-run mark for the summer — the 10th time he has passed fifty or more in as many Championship matches.

Kiran Carlson added 39 in a stand of 88 with Ingram, but both fell to leg-spinner Calvin Harrison, who claimed three wickets in an impressive spell. Ingram looked bemused to be adjudged caught at slip, while Carlson edged behind off sharp turn.

Despite those blows, Glamorgan resisted Northants’ late charge. Ben Kellaway, batting with a runner due to a calf injury, was bowled round his legs by Harrison for 18. Chris Cooke (40 not out) and Timm van der Gugten dug in to guide the visitors to safety. Van der Gugten became debutant seamer Ben Whitehouse’s maiden scalp before stumps were drawn.

Reflecting on the contest, Glamorgan head coach Richard Dawson praised his side’s resilience and Ingram’s consistency. “We knew we were going to have to bat the day out, so we did the job required. Colin Ingram, getting 1,000 runs today, just keeps on producing,” he told BBC Sport Wales. Dawson also hailed Tribe’s double century, describing the teenager as a quick learner with a simple, effective game plan.

Northants coach Darren Lehmann admitted frustration over the lost time but remained upbeat ahead of his side’s T20 Finals Day appearance at Edgbaston. “It would have been a brilliant game without the rain. Saif Zaib has been unbelievable this season, Ricardo Vasconcelos got some runs, and Procter has been fantastic opening,” he said.

For Glamorgan, promotion remains tantalisingly close, though Dawson struck a note of caution. “We keep on going, the same messages of doing the basics well and hopefully we’ll get the results we need,” he added.

As the Championship run-in looms, Glamorgan’s combination of seasoned campaigners like Ingram and rising stars like Tribe has them well placed to secure a long-awaited return to Division One.