There was a decent-sized Bank Holiday crowd in at the Swalec Stadium yesterday, many of whom must have arrived assuming that the home side would be following-on by tea. But Glamorgan's lower order had different ideas. With the pitch still favouring the bat, and the Surrey attack lacking a combination of inspiration and endurance, just five wickets fell in a day that was trimmed by six overs due to rain. Huw Waters, who had come in as nightwatchman on Thursday evening, duly recorded a career best 54. Mark Wallace hit a half-century of his own and Graham Wagg took the fight to Surrey, making 48 off 53 balls, all of which left the visitors visibly frustrated.

That Jade Dernbach was the pick of the Surrey bowlers, despite having to contend with a stomach bug, spoke volumes. Stuart Meaker was a threat in the morning session, but withdrew from the action late in the day. As for Yasir Arafat, 57 overs into the season the Pakistan all-rounder is still searching for his first wicket for the Oval outfit.

In the fifth over of proceedings, Walters cut Meaker through cover point for four. Two overs later, after surviving a concerted appeal for leg before, the former Surrey man drilled the ball straight back past the 22-year-old. In the 49th over, Walters brought up the fifty partnership for the fifth wicket with a cut four off Zander de Bruyn. Six overs later, the Australian flicked Gareth Batty to the fine leg boundary. Walters, on the drive, eventually fell in the 58th over when he lost his middle stump to Meaker.

Either side of lunch, Huw Waters suffered blows. In the 60th over the 24-year-old was struck on the right hand by Meaker. Five overs later, he was hit on the back of the head by a bouncer from Dernbach, who was bowling just his third over of the day on account of his absence from the field the night before. But Waters carried on, driving Batty for four in the 66th over and cutting the former England off-spinner to the rope at deep backward point four overs later.

Following a 75-minute break for rain, during which tea was taken, Waters went to fifty, from 167 deliveries, by dabbing Batty down to third man for two. Minutes later, however, Waters was walking back to pavilion, after Mark Wallace had pushed Chris Schofield into the off-side and called his partner through for an optimistic single.

Robert Croft was fortunate to survive a couple of chances, but Wallace batted superbly. The 29-year-old wicketkeeper straight drove Meaker for four to bring up 250 for his side and cover drove Arafat for four in the 89th over. Two overs later, Wallace reached his half-century, off 83 balls, with a thin edge between the legs of Steven Davies off Batty for four.

Later in the same over, Batty got one to turn just enough to catch the outside of Wallace's blade. 277-7 became 281-8 when Croft drove a half-volley straight to cover moments later. But Graham Wagg's self-confidence put Glamorgan's rearguard back on track.

In the 98th over, the former Warwickshire and Derbyshire man despatched a weary-looking Arafat through extra cover before helping the Pakistani down to the fine leg boundary. Two more fours from Wagg, in the space of four deliveries, a couple of overs later left Glamorgan 101 runs short of the follow-on target.

Six overs later, Wagg slog swept Schofield for a maximum. In the 109th over, James Harris earned his side a third batting point. Moments later, however, the visitors snuck in another bowling bonus point when Wagg, looking to paddle sweep, fell leg before to Schofield.

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