Glamorgan pair in big stand against Hampshire

Rothesay County Championship, Division One, Utilita Bowl (day one)

Glamorgan 353-1: Carlson 158*, ul Hassan 131*; Abbott 1-64

Hampshire: Yet to bat

Hampshire 0pts, Glamorgan 3pts

Match scorecard

Zain ul Hassan scored his maiden County Championship century and Kiran Carlson his 16th as Glamorgan hammered out runs against Hampshire.

Ul Hassan embodied patience and endeavour, whereas Carlson oppressed the bowling with quick-scoring, however, the differing approaches ended up at the same three-figure destination.

The pair put on 273 – beating a 55-year record for the highest second wicket stand for Glamorgan against Hampshire, and just 55 runs off the Welsh side's all-time second wicket partnership.

Having batted all day, Ul Hassan ended on 131, Carlson on 158 and Glamorgan 353-1, all the more impressive as they had been put in to bat first.

The pitch looked like bowling would be king, and tempted Ben Brown into choosing to take to the field first after winning the toss, but the green colouring proved a deception.

It offered plenty of zip, and the occasional moments of exciting bounce, but as the day progressed, batting proved to the only way to enjoy things in the middle.

Ul Hassan returned to the top of the order for the first time this season after Eddie Byrom was dropped to allow the fit-again Ben Kellaway to return to the middle-order.

The Pakistan-born all-rounder had never convinced in first-class cricket, with his name unfortunately most synonymous with twice being the first batter out in a season.

He had only scored four previous half-centuries in 31 appearances, but bucked his career form with a day borne out of resilience and outright quality.

On the other hand, his opening partner is one of the most talked about young talents on the county circuit.

Asa Tribe is one of the names in the frame to top the order for England this summer, with his entertaining brand of batting.

The opening pair added 79 for the first wicket, with Tribe taking the lead by scoring 45, but the morning was not as plain sailing as the last two sessions of the day proved.