He?s found runs frustratingly hard to come by so far this season, but Bermuda new boy David Hemp finally posted a score of note yesterday in the English County Championship, falling one run short of a century against Northamptonshire.

Having bowled Northants out for 174 in the first innings of their four-day match on Wednesday, Glamorgan responded with 354 all out ? Hemp top-scoring with 99 at number three in over five hours of gritty application at the crease.

But with a hundred there for the taking, the 35-year-old lefthander top-edged a sweep off England left-arm spinner Monty Panesar and was caught at short fine leg.

At the close of the second days? play, Northants were in a spot of bother at 81 for three, still 95 runs behind the Welsh outfit.

Speaking from England last night, Bermuda-born Hemp admitted he has been under-performing by averaging only a shade under 20 in the four-day game ? though he was quick to point out that this has not been through any lack of form or effort.

?It was good to get a score today ? it?s been threatening to happen for some time because I?ve been feeling good about my game,? he said.

?The problem I?ve been having is that I?ve been getting to 20 and then getting out ? which is obviously not ideal because I?m doing all the hard work and then not going on to make the most of it.

?I scored 61 the other day in the C&G Trophy against Kent and sometimes it helps playing one-day cricket because you can just go out there and be aggressive and play freely.

?It would have been nice to have got the hundred ? I?d been sweeping Panesar all day with no problems but he got one to bounce on me and it went straight to the man on the 45.

?Still, it was important that I got a good score and that I spent such a long time at the crease and hopefully now I can use that as a springboard for the rest of season and try and get over a thousand runs.?

Hemp is scheduled to arrive back in Bermuda in mid-October to complete the 13 more days of work he needs at the Bermuda Cricket Board in order to qualify to represent the Island.

He revealed yesterday that he had been following Bermuda?s results with interest while plying his trade on the county circuit and was looking forward to making himself available for selection for the tour of Kenya and South Africa in November.

?I was pleased to see they got through to the final down in Trinidad,? he said, referring to Bermuda?s recent Tri-Series campaign against Canada and Zimbabwe in the Caribbean.

?It was a big win against Canada in the their first One-Day International, and it was good for the team to get some exposure against a side like Zimbabwe.

?I?m cannot wait to get involved. Glamorgan?s season ends in September and then there is a small club tour of Guernsey that we?re all required to go on along with Gloucestershire, so that means I?ll be available for selection in October.

?I?ve heard that there have been a few problems at the top of the order, and if I?m asked to bat there I will. But I?ll bat anywhere they want me to bat because at the end of the day it is what is best for the team that is most important.?