Cricket: Big stand puts Glam back on front foot.

Byline: PHIL BENSON

GLAMORGAN made light of another late start to move into a strong position in their Frizzell County Championship Division Two game with Middlesex.

Mike Powell was unbeaten on 89, and Matthew Maynard on 86, as Glamorgan used an unbeaten fourth-wicket stand of 167 to end the second day on 228-3.

After a day-and-a-half lost to the weather, play finally got underway midway through the afternoon at Lord's.

Middlesex won the toss and invited Glamorgan to bat first and were quickly rewarded for that decision when visiting skipper Steve James was dismissed having made only six.

Pakistan all-rounder Abdur Razzaq was the man who did the damage, clean bowling the former England opener with a quicker delivery with only eight on the board.

On a pitch offering early assistance to the bowlers despite the brightening conditions, Adrian Dale managed only 18 before being bowled by a quick one from Simon Cook and David Hemp went in a similar fashion to Aaron Laraman to leave the visitors struggling at 77-3 at tea.

Maynard and Powell set about rescuing the Glamorgan innings from its precarious position, and after watchfully negotiating some tight bowling, opened up.

Maynard smashed one over from England spinner Phil Tufnell for 11, including a huge six into the stands after using his feet to get to the pitch of the ball.

Powell also picked up the run rate, hitting successive Laraman deliveries for four to bring up his 50, a milestone soon passed by his partner too.