Unicorns and Worcestershire

Nothing positive to report from Glamorgan's latest 2 40 over fixtures.

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Friday night's floodlit event versus the 'Minor Counties' Unicorns was abandoned without a ball bowled due to persistent rain.

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The least said about Sunday's drubbing at Worcester the better, especially as this was Worcester's first win of the season.

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Glamorgan's one day cricket needs urgent attention as little progress is evident.

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Glamorgan v Middlesex, Day 4, Cardiff, 190810

Middlesex duly wrapped up victory on the final morning by spending barely an hour knocking off the required 50 further runs without any further losses.

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Glamorgan will need to bounce back down at Hove next week if they are to maintain their promotion hopes, following this disappointing home loss yielding just 3 bowling points.

Glamorgan v Middlesex, Day 3, Cardiff, 180810

Glamorgan's match against Middlesex was fairly evenly poised at the end of Day 3, as Middlesex needed another 50 runs on their way towards a target of 250, but with Glamorgan knowing that two quick wickets could soon change things.

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Earlier in the day Glamorgan added another valuable 76 runs due to Jim Allenby's unbeaten 91, Jamie Dalrymple with 27 despite a broken thumb and a sprightly 26 from David Harrison.

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The main issue facing Glamorgan was the fact that the wicket seemed to be flattening out.

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Owais Shah....

...building Middlesex's reply...

...together with Dawid Malan

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Glamorgan v Middlesex, Day 2, Cardiff, 170810

The wickets continued to tumble on Day 2 in Cardiff as Glamorgan bounced back from their miserable 1st innings 198 by dismissing Middlesex for 181. Unfortunately, the home side batted little better second time around and at one stage were 120/8.

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Thankfully, contrubtions of 40 from the maturing Tom Maynard and an unbeaten 58 from the excellent Jim Allenby saw Glamorgan recover to a competitive 156/8 by the close.

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This total was helped by captain Jamie Dalrymple coming at #10 having had his finger broken by a Pedro Collins delivery the day before. Dalrymple closed on 17 not out, as Glamorgan maintained hopes of setting Middlesex an awkward 200 to win batting last.

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Tom Maynard begins to build a partnership with....

. ...Jim Allenby, surely Glamorgan's all round player of the season?

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Middlesex's Gareth Berg....

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...Scott Newman, out for 99......
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...and the impressive Dawid Malan
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Glamorgan v Middlesex, Day 1, Cardiff, 160810

A bizarre Day 1 on an unusual Cardiff wicket which had bounce off a length and movement. Middlesex closed on 68/2 after dismissing Glamorgan for an inadequate 198 for which they were indebted to last pair Dean Cosker and David Harrison for adding 62.

Glamorgan v Worcestershire, Day 4, Colwyn Bay, 120810

Glamorgan recorded an excellent final day victory over Worcestershire by 4.30 in the afternoon by the large margin of 241 runs, which sent them to the top of the Division 2 table.

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The first major event of the day was Ben Wright passing three figues (here on you tube) and closing on 121 not out as Glamorgan declared on 397/8.

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This meant Worcestershire had a target of 417 runs, which was always going to be difficult, even on Colwyn Bay.

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Worcs start their run chase

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Huw Waters gives it his all
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Allenby to Mitchell
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The splendid 'Rhos on Sea' ground...
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...at Colwyn Bay
.Waters to Mitchell
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Harrison came up trumps on the final afternoon

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Mark Cosgrove tries to make a breakthrough...
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...and then takes a breather as Glamorgan close in on victory

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Glamorgan v Worcestershire, Day 3, Colwyn Bay, 110810

Glamorgan had built an impressive lead of 374 by the end of Day 3 largely due to an explosive 98 from Tom Maynard, 65 from Gareth Rees and an unbeaten 97 from Ben Wright.

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This followed an enterprising declaration from Worcestershire who called a halt at lunchtime 19 runs behind on 350/8.

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Tom Maynard, facing Matt Mason...

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...hitting out....
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...and hitting square.
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Unfortunately, Tom Maynard fell short of a maiden first class ton (here on you tube).

.Gareth Rees....
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...under the watchful gaze of the great and the good;
Peter Walker, Matthew Maynard and the Glamorgan committee including Paul Russell...
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...studious defence...
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...and reverse sweeping...

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Moheen Ali with sunglasses on the wrong way round
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James Cameron
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Ben Wright and Jim Allenby press on after tea
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Glamorgan v Worcestershire, Day 2, Colwyn Bay, 100810

Day 2 ended with honours just about even as Worcestershire closed on 281 for 6 with in form Daryl Mitchell the mainstay ending unbeaten on 136.

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Mitchell and Alexei Kervezee...

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...build a stand
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Cosker bowls
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as does Waters
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and Allenby...

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...and Croft...

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...again...

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The excellent Colwyn Bay Cricket Club...

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...in Rhos-On-Sea...

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...with healthy crowds all week.

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Glamorgan v Worcestershire, Day 1, Colwyn Bay, 090810

As the 4 day match versus Worcestershire got started under leaden skies on the North Wales coast, it was Glamorgan who took the early initiative with some lusty blows from Mark Cosgrove (84) and another excellent knock of 72 from Ben Wright.

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Late wickets, however, left honours even with Glamorgan on 319/9.

. Tom Maynard drives Alan Richardson...

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...and then leaves alone
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Glamorgan v Lancashire, 40 Overs, Colwyn Bay, 080810

In front of very healthy crowd of over 3,000, Glamorgan's 1st of 5 days of cricket in Colwyn Bay was a bit of damp squib as Lancashire eased to an 8 wicket win.

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Those in the crowd who had negotiated the 'spoon confiscating' stewards were silenced when Lancs reduced Glam to 29-5, only dragged to respectibility by the batting of Ben Wright, Mark Wallace and Robert Croft.

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Cosgrove bats: disappointingly out early on

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Kyle Hogg bowls: The scoreboard says it all

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Ben Wright passes 50 as Gary Keedy bowls

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Crofty in classic mode

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David Brown fields in front of the healthy sized crowd
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Colwyn Bay

Really looking forward to this week's visit to Colwyn Bay for 5 days of cricket. Lancashire in the Sunday League and then a 4 dayer v Worcestershire from Monday. Pics and stuff when I get back.

Gloucestershire v Glamorgan, Day 3, Cheltenham, 010810

Glamorgan closed out a superb 176 run victory over Gloucestershire at Cheltenham to regain 2nd place in Championship Division 2.

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Resuming overnight at 283 for 7, Glamorgan added 88 in 21 overs in the morning session, largely due to a superb 113 from Mark Wallace. This set Gloucestershire a target of 345, pretty unlikely as none of their batsman has scored a century this season.

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'Wally' takes the plaudits of the Cheltenham crowd, having scored 185 runs in the match

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A badly out of touch Jonathan Batty watched closely from point by Mark Cosgrove.

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Will Porterfield briefly held Glamorgan up with 41.

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Huw Waters in action......
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.....delivering an excellent analysis of 17-9-29-3
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The Gloucestershire tail was polished off by the unstoppable Robert Croft who secured his first career hattrick with victims #9 Banerjee, #10 Hussain and #11 Kirby. Great stuff and a fine win to end an excellent 3 days.

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