Glamorgan batsmen Mike Powell and Jim Allenby both hit 55 as the LV= County Championship Division Two clash with Northamptonshire at Wantage Road headed ever closer towards a draw.

Allenby included 10 fours in his run-a-ball half-century, while Powell’s innings was in stark contrast, lasting 171 balls as Glamorgan consolidated on another rain-affected day in Northampton.

England spinner Monty Panesar found form with economical figures of 33.3-12-55-3 – his best of the season – as Northants bowled the visitors out for 383.

The hosts started their second innings with a deficit of 33 and lost Rob White early for nine before bad light stopped play at 19 for one.

Cool, cloudy conditions promised much for Northants’ seam bowlers on the third morning, but Andrew Hall and David Lucas found little movement through the air or off the seam.

Their steady line and length did however ensure that Glamorgan, restarting on 149 for three, only scored nine runs in as many overs, prior to a 50-minute mid-morning rain break.

Skipper Nicky Boje immediately turned to spin afterwards and the decision paid dividends as he trapped Jamie Dalrymple for 27 with the score at 196 for four.

Powell completed a painstaking half-century off 171 balls before lunch but did not last much longer after the interval falling to Jack Brooks.

Incoming batsmen Allenby was clearly in mood to follow Powell’s lead, smashing 28 from two Lucas overs as he passed 50 from just 44 balls.

The Australian added 87 with keeper Mark Wallace but just as Glamorgan looked to be running away with the match Northants struck three times in the space of 10 overs.

Allenby, Wallace and Robert Croft were all bowled by David Wigley, Panesar and Brooks as they found movement and bounce.

Despite a flurry of wickets Glamorgan progressed past Northants’ total of 350 before losing James Harris to keeper Riki Wessels for 26 off the bowling of Andrew Hall.

Seamer Adam Shantry hit a valiant 32 off 47 balls before becoming Panesar’s third victim as Glamorgan were bowled out in the 123rd over with a lead of 33.

Northants began their second innings in poor fashion with Harris trapping out-of-form White leg before.

However, Stephen Peters (six not out) and Alex Wakely (four no) went off for bad light 14 runs behind after seven overs.