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Carlson’s historic hundred delays Essex promotion party
- Updated: September 12, 2016
Glamorgan 256 for 7 (Carlson 101*, Morgan 51*, Napier 4-46) v Essex Scorecard
Delayed at the start of the day by the absence of Glamorgan’s equipment from the ground, Essex were delayed at the end by the presence of a record-breaking teenager at the crease. Needing six points to confirm promotion and the Division Two title, Essex managed two in short order before Kiran Carlson’s maiden first-class hundred staved off a seemingly inexorable collapse. At 18 years and 119 days, Carlson became the youngest player to score a first-class century for Glamorgan.
These are heady days at the ECG but Essex are not yet champions and Carlson’s unheralded intervention – his previous best score in four innings was 10 – meant the metaphorical bunting that was being brought out by the time Graham Napier’s fourth wicket reduced Glamorgan to 83 for 6 had to be stowed away by the close. As if to compound the frustration Napier, playing in his last home match before retirement, limped off during the afternoon and will have to wait until the morning to find out how much more of a role he can play.
A club that have become so used to near misses have embraced their status as frontrunners warily. The Essex members who had seen their team finish third in each of the last three seasons were convinced that, with only one promotion spot available as the ECB whittles away a couple of games from the Championship schedule, this would doubtless be the year they finished second. Three innings wins in a row at the climax of the season – not to mention Kent’s welcome capitulation against Northamptonshire last week – has grudgingly brought people around.
They have become used to waiting, however, and the news that the start would be put back, ultimately by an hour and a half, because Glamorgan’s kit van was stuck on the A12 was met with ironic chuckles by those Essex fans who had got in early to see every moment of a game that is expected to be a coronation. Bonus points alone could be enough to see Essex go up – they lead Kent, who only have one game …
