Sunday, June 19, 2016

Glamorgan v Kent, Days 1 and 2, LVCC2, Cardiff, 19/06/16

Little more than 90 minutes of play was possible at the SWALEC Stadium on Day 1 of Glamorgan's home Championship clash with Kent.

Great work from the ground staff ensured play began promptly at 11am, with visiting captain Sam Northeast electing to insert, as is his right under the new rules this season.

He didn't have to wait long for a breakthrough either, with Matt Coles bowling Mark Wallace for a first ball duck with just the fifth ball of the match.

Worse was to follow in the 2nd over with captain Jacques Rudolph falling LBW to Darren Stevens.

With the home side in dreadful trouble it was left to Will Bragg (33 not out) and Chris Cooke (42 not out) to steady the ship with an unbroken 86 stand, leaving Glamorgan on 93/2 when the rain came and washed out the rest of the day's play.

Surely Glamorgan must use the rest of this year's Championship campaign to look at other openers, notably Nick Selman and James Kettleborough?



Callum Haggett awaits his chance to bowl on a gloomy day in Cardiff


Day 2

Glamorgan built a respectable first innings total on Day 2, in brighter weather, largely due to the efforts of the lower order.

After Bragg fell for 36 and Cooke for 46, it was the ever reliable Graeme Wagg with 83 and Craig Meschede 78 who helped the home county to 351 all out.

By the close, Kent had reached 10 for no wicket.




Joe Denly watches on as Glamorgan build a score



David Lloyd defends...



...and attacks

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Glamorgan v Middlesex, RL 50 Over Cup, Cardiff, 14/06/16

Middlesex ended Glamorgan's good run in white ball cricket with a 28 runs victory sealed on a cool evening in the Welsh capital.

Their success was based upon a brilliant opening stand of 176 in 26.2 overs with former Glamorgan favourite Brendan McCullum smashing a superb 110 and new England T20 man Dawid Malan striking 70. From there, the innings meandered to a final total of 294 off 50 overs, when, quite frankly, at one stage, 400 may have been possible.

Glamorgan started well with Jacques Rudolph (45) and David Lloyd (41) taking 63 off the first ten overs. With Colin Ingram and Chris Cooke at the crease, the home side were looking good, needing a viable 87 off the last 10 overs.

Sadly Cooke fell for 41 in the 42nd over and, despite Ingram's brilliant 85, it was not to be for Glamorgan, who were all out with 10 balls to spare




Graeme Wagg to Malan


Michael Hogan limbers up by the bins


Wagg surveys the scene


Another Glamorgan old boy James Franklyn bowls to Will Bragg


England ODI captain, Eoin Morgan, considers how much warmer it was in India for the IPL


Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Glamorgan v Sussex, RL 50 Over Cup, Cardiff, 08/06/16

Under clear blue skies, Glamorgan continued their good form in one day cricket with an excellent 84 runs win over a good and experienced Sussex outfit.

Choosing to bat first, the Daffodil county posted a healthy 302/6 off 50 overs with Will Bragg striking 42, Chris Cooke 80, Aneurin Donald 53 and Graeme Wagg 52.

In reply, Sussex lost wickets at regular intervals. Luke Wright was a big threat but was caught in the deep for 65. Harry Finch (25) and Ed Joyce (31) made useful contributions, but the victory was rarely in doubt. Glamorgan's out cricket was good, with Michael Hogan recording figures of 4-41 off 8.4 overs - quite superb.



Chris Jordan back from the IPL to ply his trade with Sussex


Glamorgan tighten the screw under the lights

Monday, June 13, 2016

Glamorgan v Gloucestershire, RL 50 Over Cup, Cardiff, 06/06/16

Glamorgan kicked off their 50 over campaign in the Royal London Cup with an excellent 52 run victory over local rivals Gloucestershire.

After losing the toss and being inserted the home county reached 289 all out, finishing one ball shy of the full 50 overs. Anchored by captain Jacques Rudolph with 53, the main stroke play came from Will Bragg (75), Colin Ingram (35), David Lloyd (28) and a rapid 49 from Graeme Wagg.

In good weather, Gloucestershire had a solid start from captain Michael Klinger (52) but thereafter it was only a fighting 77 from Benny Howell which brought them anywhere near the target, eventually being all out for 237 in slightly more than 47 overs. 

Wickets were shared between Timm van der Gugten (3-33), Wagg (2-48), Craig Meschede (2-43) and Ingram (2-12). They were backed up well by some fine catching from the Welsh county, which ensured that Glamorgan made a winning start to this competition.



Glamorgan build a competitive score


Gloucestershire's Tom Smith fields in the deep



Hamish Marshall looks on


Hogan fields under the lights

Sunday, June 12, 2016

Glamorgan v Hampshire, T20, Cardiff, 03/06/16

By complete contrast to Wednesday evening, Glamorgan turned in a superb display to defeat star studded Hampshire by 5 wickets in front of a packed crowd on a glorious Friday evening.

Electing to bowl, the Daffodil county were on fire and claimed wickets at regular intervals with Michael Hogan claiming 4, Dale Steyn 3 and the evergreen Dean Cosker 2. They were backed up with outstanding catching.

Hampshire could not get going and only managed 141, being bowled out 3 balls shy of 20 overs, despite boasting Michael Carberry, James Vince and Shahid Afridi amongst their line up.

In reply, Rudolph and Lloyd fell early but Aneurin Donald with a blistering 55, Colin Ingram with a superb 43 and a fine cameo of 24 not out from Chris Cooke saw Glamorgan home to send the noisy crowd home happy.

Scorecard

Not a bad trio warming up: Michael Carberry, James Vince and Shahid Afridi 



Graeme Wagg bowls to England's James Vince


Good weather and a big crowd



Dale Steyn....



...in full flow...


...a fine Glamorgan signing

Saturday, June 4, 2016

Glamorgan v Essex, T20, Cardiff, 01/06/16

It was an insipid start to this year's home matches in the T20 Blast by Glamorgan as they fell to a dispiriting loss to Essex by 7 wickets with nearly 4 overs remaining.

Under leaden skies, Glamorgan batted first but posted an inadequate 140 on a good Cardiff pitch. Only 51 from impressive Aneurin Donald, 26 from Colin Ingram and an unbeaten 23 from Chris Cooke gave the score respectability.

In reply, Essex could have got off to the worst possible start as Dale Steyn's first ball for Glamorgan was dropped at slip by Donald off Ravi Bopara's bat-edge. He went soon after but a fierce 42 from Jessie Ryder and 41 from Tom Westley set up Ryan ten Doeschate and Dan Lawrence to see the visitors over the line.

It was a poor start to the home campaign for Glamorgan especially after the previous week's brilliant victory over Surrey at the Oval, proving disappointing for those who turned out.


All the fun of the T20, but a poor crowd under grey skies


Glamorgan try to build a total under the floodlights


Pakistan left arm seamer Wahab Riaz went for 44 runs in 4 overs


Scorecard