SWANSEA (Wales), May 25: Glamorgan have been docked eight Championship points after ECB inspectors found them guilty of failing to prepare the pitch at Swansea properly for the match against Middlesex.

Twenty-one wickets fell on the first day, and Middlesex wrapped up an innings victory inside two days.

ECB pitch inspector Jack Birkenshaw summoned colleagues Chris Broad and David Bridle to St Helen's to view the pitch that was damp on the first day. The trio evidence from both captains and coaches, and groundsman Len Smith, during two hours of deliberations before penalising the county.

Birkenshaw said the eight-point penalty was due to a poor pitch that produced ‘excessive turn’, even though seam was responsible for 20 wickets and spin claimed only nine. —Agencies