Glamorgan v Derbyshire, Championship Div 2, Colwyn Bay, 17-20/07/16

The annual visit to Colwyn Bay Cricket Club in Rhos-On-Sea provided an excellent first Championship win of the season for Glamorgan as they overcame Derbyshire by 4 wickets in glorious weather on the North Wales coast.

The highlight of the match was a stunning 234 from Glamorgan's 19 year old batsman Aneurin Donald. Having scored these runs off just 136 balls, he equalled the record for the fastest double century in world cricket.

With Glamorgan totalling 518 in their first innings, Derbyshire crumbled to 177 all out in reply.

Following on, they made a much better effort with centuries from Billy Godleman and Chesney Hughes helping them to 536 and hence setting Glamorgan 196 to win on the last afternoon.

The chase was not without its hiccups, but an unbeaten 51 from Jacques Rudolph, 40 from Mark Wallace and an aggressive 36 not out from Craig Meschede saw the Welshmen home.

It was my first visit to Colwyn Bay for five years and it never disappoints. The local club do a superb job in staging the fixture, the ground looked a picture and it is a trip which both home and away supporters look forward to. Long may it, and other outground cricket, continue.

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Pics from 1st 3 days

Day 1

Day 2

Even the gulls like Colwyn Bay

Derbyshire build a better reply following on

Day 3

Chesney Hughes passes 100 on a sweltering afternoon

Glamorgan v Gloucestershire, T20, Cardiff, 10/07/16

Glamorgan's fine run in Twenty 20 cricket came to an end as Gloucestershire emerged as comfortable winners in this Sunday afternoon top of the table clash, cruising home by 9 wickets with nearly 4 overs to spare.

In truth, it was a rather strange afternoon all round, as the home side played on the same used wicket as Thursday night's clash with Sussex, then chose to bat first and turning in a rather insipid display mustering only 119 in 20 overs. Solely Graeme Wagg, with an unbeaten 32, adding some necessary momentum.

The Bristol based men had no trouble knocking off the runs with Michael Klinger and Iain Cockbain stroking half centuries.

That said, Glamorgan still remain well placed to reach the quarter finals, and will be keen to make amends away to Hampshire this coming Thursday.

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Matt Taylor opens up against David Lloyd

Glamorgan v Sussex, T20, Cardiff, 07/07/16

Glamorgan continued their superb form in Twenty 20 cricket with a stunningly easy win over a star-studded Sussex line up at Cardiff, making it 6 wins from 7 played matches in the South Group.

David Lloyd was the bedrock of the Glamorgan innings with a fine 81, displaying more of the short form skills that he also showed against Kent a few weeks back.

To be truthful, the home side's 159 off 20 overs felt a little under par, especially after being 128/2 in the 13th over.

In reply, the boys from Brighton didn't even sniff it. A miserly 6 over powerplay from Wagg, van der Gugten, Tait and Hogan set the tone. Luke Wright fell cheaply and there were only minor cameos from Ross Taylor and Chris Jordan, as Sussex folded to 113 all out, leaving Glamorgan comfortable winners by 46 runs, a huge margin in T20.

In fairness, they all did well but vdG's 4/17 from 4 overs was the bowling highlight.

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Beer to Lloyd....

....who clips him to leg

England v Sri Lanka, ODI, Cardiff, 02/07/16

It was another successful hosting of a One-Day International by Glamorgan at the Swalec Stadium, where a large crowd saw England complete a 3-0 whitewash of an ordinary Sri Lankan side in the one day series.

In truth it was a rather routine win for England after posting 324 in their 50 overs, which, in all honesty, the tourists never looked like getting, falling all out for 202.

Early morning rain dampened spirits early on, delaying the start until 10.40 and then causing another stoppage at around 11. But, by the afternoon, the sun shone strongly on a bright and breezy afternoon, and the crowd filled up close to capacity (the Welsh football team's 3-1 win over Belgium in Euro 16 on the previous evening may have contributed to the slow start amongst the locals!)

England's batting progress was sedate by recent standards. The innings was anchored with the mighty Joe Root getting 93, but the highlight was a spectacular 70 off 45 balls from Jos Buttler. 324 felt a bit short by 30 or 40 runs against an nonthreatening Sri Lankan attack, with their spin bowlers looking particularly ordinary. 

In reply, Angelo Mathews' men did not at any stage look capable of scoring 300 + at over a run a ball. A tight initial powerplay (41/1 off 10) was backed up by more good bowling and fielding, England skipper Eoin Morgan afterwards described it as "our most complete display".

In truth, the last 20 overs or so were rather meandering with everyone just waiting for the inevitable demise of the visitors' lower order. But that should not detract from another efficient England performance and one more successful staging of an England game in the Welsh capital

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Jason Roy and James Vince open up for England

but Surrey man Roy goes early

An excellent crowd.....

...in good weather....

...had built up by the afternoon

Root and Buttler starred in England's innings...

...Root scoring 93...

...and getting a great reception in Cardiff

Much better weather by the afternoon

Liam Plunkett looks on as England squeeze Sri Lanka

Glamorgan v Surrey, T20, Cardiff, 24/06/16

Glamorgan completed a T20 double over the men from South London with an impressive bowling and fielding display in front of a good crowd in decent June weather.

Dale Steyn has proved to be masterstroke of a signing and, in his last game for the county, returned 2 wickets for 20 runs off 4 overs. Dean Cosker was also impressive with 2 for 23 off his 4. Surrey were all out for 110.

Despite losing David Lloyd early on, Glamorgan's response with the bat was sublime. Jacques Rudolph anchored it with an unbeaten 40, but the start turn was Colin Ingram with 73 not out off 49 balls.

Glamorgan won comfortably with over 4 overs left.

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Firing up the home crowd

Dale Steyn warms up for his last Glamorgan spell

Andrew Salter was part of some fine Glamorgan fielding and catching

Another good crowd in for T20

Glamorgan's reply with the bat was (almost) faultless