Northamptonshire had built a solid platform in their bid to avoid the follow-on at the end of day two of the CricInfo Championship clash with Glamorgan at Cardiff.

Australian Mike Hussey and Mal Loye helped Northamptonshire to 116-1 by the close needing a further 291 to avoid batting again after Glamorgan had declared their first inning on 556-7.

All six of the top order scored half-centuries as Glamorgan strengthened their position after they had dominated the first day.

Glamorgan eventually declared their first innings 20 minutes before tea when Robert Croft holed out just seven short of what would have been his second championship 100.

Croft was the sixth Glamorgan batsman to 50 or more - equalling the feat that first happened in 1951 against Derbyshire at Cardiff Arms Park.

Glamorgan had resumed this morning on 370-3 losing only the wicket of Adrian Dale in the first session.

After lunch Mike Powell perished 14 short of what would have been his second century against Northamptonshire this season, while Mark Wallace was run out and Croft was caught on the mid-wicket boundary.

Northamptonshire negotiated a tricky seven overs before tea but shortly afterwards they lost Adrian Rollins, in his first championship game of the summer, trapped lbw sweeping to Croft.

Spin could play a crucial factor in a wearing Sophia Gardens pitch but Hussey and Loye did a good job in nullifying the threat of both Croft and Dean Cosker to both register half-centuries before the close.

© CricInfo