Date-stamped : 10 Jun95 - 02:23 Crawley speeds to fine century BY DAVID GREEN AT OLD TRAFFORD First day of four: Lancashire 378-8 v Glamorgan JOHN CRAWLEY`S first century in this season`s championship - a masterful innings of 182 made without giving a chance in 51/4 hours - carried high-flying Lancashire to a healthy total yesterday. Supported by Graham Lloyd, 50, and Mike Watkinson, 44, in stands of 94 for the fourth wicket and 90 for the fifth, Crawley faced 259 balls and hit 25 boundaries, mainly through pulls and sweetly timed off drives. This was a good toss to win, the pitch being dry enough to assist the spinners later on. Lancashire began poorly when Nick Speak, short of runs, was run out through a combination of his own indecision and Tony Cottey`s fine stop, and they also lost Jason Gallian before lunch, undone by Steve Barwick`s arm ball. Though Neil Fairbrother never settled, Lloyd was swiftly into his stride, off- driving Kendrick for six. With Crawley imposing himself, the scoring-rate rocketed, 184 runs coming between lunch and tea, Lloyd`s innings occupying only 47 balls. Crawley these days picks up the bat over off stump rather than towards third slip. He looks much more secure around off-stump while retaining his whipped stroke, which sends the short, straight ball whistling through mid-on. While Crawley was in a score of 500 looked possible, but after he had holed out by the sightscreen off Robert Croft, as Watkinson had done not long before, Glamorgan`s out cricket, which had become ragged, tightened up. Lancashire, having scored at five an over in the afternoon, were later restricted to three per over, due principally to Barwick and Croft. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http:://ww.telegraph.co.uk) Day 2=> Cottey and Maynard set record Second day of four: Glamorgan (338-2) trail Lancashire (417) by 79 runs AN UNBROKEN third-wicket partnership of 198 between Matthew Maynard (119) and Tony Cottey (105) established a Glamorgan record for matches against Lancashire in a solid response to the home side`s formidable first-innings total at Old Trafford, writes David Green. Glamorgan began the day positively, capturing the two outstanding Lancashire wickets inside 40 minutes. Then Wasim Akram, in a fiery first over, struck Adrian Dale on the thumb, a fracture causing his eventual retirement. Dale will take no further part, except in an emergency. Wasim dismissed David Hemp cheaply but thereafter Glamorgan took control on a perfect pitch, Hugh Morris playing with massive certainty until, charging at Gary Keedy`s slow left-arm, he got too close to a full toss and spliced to mid-on. Maynard showed admirable discipline and his first century of the season came off 153 balls with 11 fours. Cottey`s took two balls less and included 13 boundaries. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Day 3=> Maynard knocks 138 `for his grandad` BY DAVID GREEN AT OLD TRAFFORD Third day of four: Lancs (417 & 140-1) lead Glamorgan (475) by 82 runs MATTHEW MAYNARD, who scored 138, and Tony Cottey, 124, added 237 for the third wicket as Glamorgan gained a first innings lead of 58. However, Lancashire responded with 140 for one with Jason Gallian on 64 not out. Cottey, Glamorgan`s leading batsman last season, impressed again in his busy and determined way, while Maynard, whose natural aggression and flamboyant style have sometimes betrayed him in the past, played with a Boycott-like discipline and self-control. Maynard`s talent has never been in doubt. His first-class career has so far yielded more than 14,000 runs, average 41 with 31 centuries, but inconsistency has limited his Test appearances to a mere four between 1988 and 1993-94. Born in Oldham, Maynard was given an incentive to play well by meeting an old friend of his grandfather on Thursday morning. Many happy memories were revived. "That knock was played for my grandad," said Maynard afterwards. If Maynard can put together more innings like this - such is his variety of stroke that, even in restrained mode, he scored pretty rapidly - he must have a good chance of forcing his way back into Test contention. After all, he is still only 29, an age at which Eddie Paynter, a brilliant left-handed batsman for Lancashire and England before the Second World War, had yet to gain a regular place in his county side. Yesterday, Glamorgan, resuming at 338 for two, in response to Lancashire 417, hoped for a hefty lead but Maynard and Cottey, having added 39 runs, were undone by testing deliveries from Ian Austin and Wasim Akram respectively with the second new ball. Wasim, who finished with four for 77, excellent figures on such a true pitch, also had Hamish Anthony lbw for a duck but Glamorgan`s tail wagged with Neil Kendrick, Colin Metson and Steve Watkin, each contributing usefully. Lancashire`s second innings proceeded smoothly until Nick Speak fell aiming a reverse sweep. Gallian, and John Crawley again, played fluently but contrivance will be necessary to secure a positive result. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Day 4=> Crawley back on his feet BY DAVID GREEN AT OLD TRAFFORD Lancs (417 & 338-3 dec) drew with Glamorgan (472 & 233-7) GLAMORGAN, set to make 281 for victory in what turned out to be 61 overs, had a good chance while Matthew Maynard was at the crease but struggled after his departure for 67 and finished 48 runs short. With Adrian Dale having broken a thumb, Hugh Morris opened with Colin Metson, who survived for 15 overs to blunt the threat of Wasim Akram with the new ball but, contributing only eight runs, put Glamorgan rather behind the clock. Morris looked in good order until Ian Austin defeated him. Then Maynard assumed the dominant role, scoring his runs off only 64 balls before falling to Gary Keedy, who had his revenge for heavy punishment. Mike Watkinson then bowled a useful spell of off-spin, claiming the wickets of Robert Croft, Tony Cottey and Hamish Anthony in successive overs, all neatly stumped aiming big hits. This forced Glamorgan to settle for a draw. Earlier, Lancashire, resuming at 140 for one, 82 runs ahead, scored briskly against an attacking field. John Crawley made 108, his second century of the match, while Jason Gallian contributed a solid 158. Both batsmen demonstrated good technique. England`s beleaguered selectors might, perhaps, look again at Crawley, who has slimmed down noticeably and is playing now with a much straighter pick-up. He thus looks much less likely to edge the ball leaving him and in addition is playing with great confidence. Source: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)