A ninth-wicket partnership of 77 in 17 overs between Robert Croft and Dean Cosker lifted Glamorgan from a gloomy 170-8 and helped them secure two batting points on the rain-interrupted opening day of the CricInfo Championship match against Surrey in Cardiff.

Glamorgan were eventually dismissed for 258 in 74.4 overs but the rain that had already cost 23 overs of the day then returned to wash out the final four overs of play and save Surrey from what could have been a testing few minutes.

In theory at least, Surrey began the day needing a further four points to ensure against joining Glamorgan in the second division next season and they set off strongly after Steve James had won the toss and chosen to bat first under heavy skies.

Ben Hollioake, who shared the new ball with Martin Bicknell, sent back Jimmy Maher and Ian Thomas in successive overs and Bicknell then accounted for James and Adrian Dale to reduce Glamorgan to 62-4 in the 21st over.

Michael Powell and Jonathan Hughes began the recovery with a partnership of 81 for the fifth wicket. Hughes, a 20-year-old right-hand bastman, played plenty of aggressive shots, including a straight six off Ian Salisbury, and showed few nerves on his Championship debut.

Powell reached his half-century off 91 balls with five fours and had moved on to 56 when he edged Ed Giddins to first slip. Giddins, who did not bowl until the second over after lunch, then sent back Hughes for a well struck 38 off 66 balls, Mark Wallace and Darren Thomas to finish with 4-71 from 16 overs.

It left Croft and Cosker to lift Glamorgan's spirits with their encouraging late partnership and Croft was eventually unbeaten on 70 from 83 balls with eight fours and a six.

© CricInfo Ltd.