Glamorgan, champions of Wales

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We have two young hopefuls promoted front the youth team, RHB Samson Lee and RFM bowler Adam Beard.

Lee is of average aggression and a T20 opener with modest averages across the formats, though his LO averages are higher than Carlson’s.

Adam Beard has reasonable averages but while is LO averages will probably make him an average bowler his 3 day average of 29.5 @ 2.98 would most likely transfer to a bower who was neither economical or a wicket taker.

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Two T20s finish off the group stage before the OD matches begin. We are currently 12 from 12 and a clean sweep is within reach. First up is Somerset. Still no Gill or Iqbal to open but we also lose Waites (who is still in rotten form) and Jenkins to the England OD squad. Colin Ingram is in good form so we give him a place. We field:
Lloyd, Selman, Porter, Ingram, Cooke, Nethercott, Faulkner, Galiem, Wadlan, de Lange and Foyle.

We choose to bowl first and despite a powerful 44 from hildreth can manage just 128-8. We make a slowish start but the run rate is still just 6.5 when Ingram comes to the crease. He manages to hog the strike and hit just THREE from 3 overs. The run rate is now 8.3 and we have to chase a bit harder. 21 year old all-rounder Tom Lammonby and van see Merwe tear up the lower order and we flop to 97 all out. Ingram has played his last match for us.

The final match is against Sussex. Root replaces Ingram. A straight forward win.

We finish the group stage waaaay in front with just one match lost, Somerset a good 9 points behind in 2nd.

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We enter the Challenge Trophy with some trepidation. Seven players away in the 100 and little strength in depth, certainly little experience and our only all-rounder one of those missing.

The line up almost picks itself.

Iqbal is back, so will open.

It is between Selman and Lloyd to open with him and despite his low run rate I go for Selman since Lloyd is a bit flakey.

Porter next, a fairly poor first season’s experience under his belt.

Then our dilemma. We have 5 batsmen to fill no’s 4-6, the most experienced is Carlson with an average of 22.78. We go for Warner, who had a good OD campaign last year, Lee making his 1st team debut and Nethercott.

No all-rounder so 5 bowlers and an extremely long tail for a LO side.

van de Gugten underwhelmed last year and Sanderson’s record isn’t great either. We opt for Sanderson to open with Todd, Foyle and Mills, who all had decent OD campaigns last year with Remington our spinner, who has no experience at all in LO cricket.

The games we do win will be close and it could be difficult too reach our goal, the semi-final.

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The first match is against Essex and are asked to bowl first on a flat pitch with a little spin, a pitch on which to rack up runs against a seam attack. We hold them to 239, a very good total on this pitch. Iqbal leads with 109 off 109 balls to start with a win.

Next up, Somerset. Who put us in to bat on the usual Cardiff pitch of bounce with some spin. Warner and Lee get to the 40s but we are bowled for just 209. They start well and are ahead on RR by 20 overs in but are 3 down. Once the powerful hitting Hildreth is out we rein them in before a burst of runs brings them level - but 8 down with 10 overs left. We get the wickets, 10 balls and 10 runs to spare.

Selman’s form has dropped off a cliff so is replaced by Lloyd and Gill returns. Against Gloucester it takes us 31 overs to take a wicket and it looks like they will post a big total, but one we break the opening partnership and they lose no3 Roderick we tear through the rest to bow them for 241. We just about keep up with the RR, sometimes above, sometimes below, but 50s from Lloyd and Nethercott see us home in the last over.

Middlesex away next. Overcast conditions and rain. We bowl first and have them 9-3 in no time, the lower order drag them back into it but they can set just 183-7. We struggle, rain forces a revised DLS target and just when all is lost and they are in to our long tail Foyle comes good. Scoring 40 from 56 to take us to the edge of victory. We are 9 down but manage the last 10 runs for another win.

We bowl Middlesex for just 180 in 42 overs, a consequence of their going too hard at the start. We don’t lose a wicket.

Todd’s form is not improving so replaced by Beard. Kent put us in to bat, Gill sets us up nicely but just as we could do with putting our door down we are already down to our last two recognised batsmen and have to be cautious. We go for it at the last and end 256-7. Balbirnie smacks us about but they get nowhere close, bowled for 218. Our wins are becoming better and more confident. Who had so little faith in these lads?

We bowl Surrey for just 169, an easy win.

We keep Hampshire to 216, a 50 from the traitor Nye Donald. For the first time out batting fails, not withstanding a 40 from Porter, and we flop to 196 all out.

A superb campaign, the youngsters making my concerns look foolish as we win 7 from 8 and qualify top of the group and straight into the semi-final.

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Challenge Cup Semi-final against Yorkshire, Cardiff

Many of the players who were playing in the 100 return, though not Wadlan. Yorkshire are missing the big two of Root and Bairstow so we are in with a good chance here. With de Lange returning we have to choose between Mills and Beard and go for Beard as he has had a good run. The teams line up as:

Glamorgan

S. Gill
S. Lloyd
J.. Porter
D. Jenkins
C. Cooke
T. Nethercott
A. Beard
B. Sanderson
M. de Lange
M. Foyle
S. Remington

Yorkshire

A Lyth
H. Brook
R. Weasels
G. Ballance
T. Wood
J. Tattersall
A. Turner
M. Waite
D. Willey
A. Rashid
B. Coad

We lose the toss and are put in to bat, the pitch bouncy with some spin.

Gill hits 132 off 126 balls and almost all our runs are up front – partnerships of 50, 145 and 55. We try to accelerate an already decent run rate but the bowling is too good. We post 278-9, a total that should see us to victory.

Brook hits a ponderous half century but we take 6 wickets for 8 runs or less, three of them ducks.

A one-sided affair, winning by 93 runs.

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T20 Quarter-final against Warwickshire, Cardiff

A full complement of players to choose from. Given out group stage record, a match we should win fairly comfortably given they only won 50% of their matches.

Glamorgan

S. Gill
S. Lloyd
J.. Porter
D. Jenkins
C. Cooke
T. Nethercott
J. Faulkner
B. Wadlan
M. de Lange
T. van der Gugten
M. Foyle

Warwickshire

I Sutton
E. Pollock
S. Hain
R. Yates
T. Ambrose
A. Thompson
H. Meier
N. Rule
J. Linton
I. Stone
C.. Miles

We win the toss and put them in to bat.

De Lange takes a pair with his first two balls and they never recover, all out for 114.

Obviously an easy win, we think. Lloyd, Porter and Jenkins last 7 balls and score 2 runs between them. Gill scores an unimpressive 22 and Nethercott 9 but Cooke (45*) and Faulkner (32*) win the match for us.

A win, but we got ourselves into a right mess.

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We have two FC matches before the T20 semi-final. First up is Derbyshire at home. They are mid-table with 3 wins from 9. We will be looking to win all our matches to ensure qualification, which will also give our opponents opportunities. We field:Gill, Selman, Porter, Jenkins, Waites, Cooke, Wadlan, de Lange, van der Guggenheim, Sanderson and Foyle.

We lose the toss and are asked to bowl.

Godliman hits a good half century but they are bowled for just 149. We put up another massive opening partnership, and total, in reply. Iqbal (177), Selman (142) and Jenkins (107) all score centuries, Waites falls just short on 97. Poor Porter is the poor relation with just 8. We declare on 560-4.

We bowl them for 181. And we dropped three catches. Madsen and FC debutant Holroyd put up their main partnership but we make light work of the rest.

Like the last win this is a good indicator of where we are in terms of performance. To compete in the 1st division we need to be able to dominate the weaker 2nd division teams.

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Next we welcome Middlesex, a game that should be closer but we should expect to win. Jenkins is injures and is replaced by Warner.

We win the toss and bat first.

Gill goes cheaply but Selman and Porter bat well. With a decent foundation Warner and Waites put on a century partnership, Warner plodding along but Waites hitting his 50 in 73 balls and his 100 in 166 gives us the momentum. Sanderson takes 5-51 as they are bowled for 202. Gubbins put up a good counter-attack but we managed to slow him up and force a loose shot.

We do not enforce the follow on and the quick 50s from Selman, Porter and a run-a-ball 59 from Waites sees us declare on 254-4. They bat well with a century for Eskinazi and another 50 for Gubbins but we bowl them for a strong 121 run win.

Another good performance, Waites finally finding some form.

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T20 Semi-final against Somerset, Taunton

The 6th, and final, time we meet. We currently lead 3-2 on matches won but this is as important as the 2nd FC match. Jenkins is injured so is replaced by Waites. They are missing Dom Bess, a big loss for them. The pitch has a little bounce and spin.

The teams are:

Somerset

T. Banton
T. Abel
J. Hildreth
G. Bartlett
E. Byrom
C. Anderson
L. Gregory
T. Lammonby
C. Overton
J. Overton
K. Rabada

Glamorgan

S. Gill
D. Lloyd
J. Porter
M. Waites
C. Cooke
T. Nethercott
J. Faulkner
B. Wadlan
M. de Lange
T. van der Gugten
M. Foyle

They win the toss and put us in to bat.

We make a very solid start, Lloyd’s 70 off 43 ball the main driver. They drag us back but we post 171-5, a total that should be good enough.

We take steady wickets and the run rate is slipping away from them. Having taken two wickets in his first two overs opening the bowling de Lange returns with 3 overs, 4 wickets and 31 runs left. He takes 3 in an over to all but finish the match off, they fall 15 short of our total.

Very good to be able to claim the 4-2 win rate over Somerset and take us into the final.

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T20 Final against Surrey, Lords

A team we have beaten comfortably twice in the group stage. However that counts for nothing and a quick look through their line up and recent form would dispel any complacency.

Surrey

J. Roy
T. Koehler-Cadmore
H. Amla
I. Pope
R. Burns
B. Foakes
W. Jacks
S. Curran
J. Clarke
T. Curran
I. Shinwari

We are unchanged.

The pitch has just the slightest bounce and it will be difficult to hold them to a good score given the recent form of their batsmen. If one get away we will be ok but if two or more…

We win the toss and choose to bowl, a 50/50 decision.

Roy gives us what is politely called and absolute beating, 86 off 33. We get some quick wickets but Foakes weighs in with 62 in 31 and they reach 197-7.

We chase hard and are pulling the run rate down but losing wickets. No one puts in the big innings we so desperately need and we are bowled for 159, 16 overs in.

A disappointment but a good final. Great batting from two very good batsmen and our line up showing it’s limitations.

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Two first class matches before the Challenge Trophy final.

We are now sitting on top of the table with 185 points, Leicestershire and Somerset not far behind on 171 and 170.

First up we are away to Sussex, a pitch offering little to the seamers but plenty for the spinners. We swap Remington and Foyle. Waites is called up so we field Nethercott. He does not seem like a natural middle-order batsman but the other options are in iffy form. We field:
Gill, Selman, Porter, Warner, Nethercott, Cooke, Wadlan, Remington, de Lange, van der Gugten and Sanderson.

We win the toss and bat first.

Gill scores a century, Porter 44 but their spinners are excellent. New Zealander Malcolm Nofal takes 2-35 but Amat Virdi bowls a whopping 42 overs taking 6-123 and we are all out for 292. They put together a couple of reasonable partnerships but can only manage 241 in reply, Remington taking a career best 4-48.

We build a good lead, Gill, Selman and Porter a half century each and we declare on 327-9 with 3 and a bit session remaining. Feeling confident we open the bowling with Sanderson and Wadlan, which does not work. We usually revert to LO tactics if a team gets going in the 4th innings but feel so confident that we do not do so this time. A mistake. Salt hits a century, Wells, van Zyl and Robinson 50s. We do win but they are within 2 runs with 7 balls remaining. Relief. That will teach me.

A really close match, a good win. It keeps us top of the table with both Leicestershire and Somerset losing their matches and remaining in 2nd and 3rd respectively.

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Worcester at home, Waites is back and replaces Nethercott. After the last trouncing we have them we feel full of confidence. We are asked to bowl first.

Some resistance from the tail but we bowl them for 153. Their opener Len Welch, who was promoted from the youth team this year, is hit in the ribs by de Lange and retires hurt. We swagger out expecting to pile on the runs. The batsmen, however, sell their wickets for less than a packet of knock-off Hula Hoops in Aldi. We limp pathetically to 208.

By the time they break even with us they are 3 down, 4 if you count the injured Welch. We wrap them up for 108 and knock off the runs without loss. The whole thing lasted until just inside the third day.

This win cements our promotion to the 1st division finishing top of the table. Somerset have beaten Leicestershire to move ahead of them into second place but we how have 27 points on them

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Challenge Trophy Final against Leicestershire

The pitch is doing all sorts, plenty of bounce a spin. This is not going to be a high scoring match and we definitely want to bat second. Trying to set a total on this pitch would be difficult – easy to overdo it and lose wickets or be too cautious.

The teams:

Glamorgan

S. Gill
D. Lloyd
J. Porter
D. Jenkins
M. Waites
T. Nethercott
B. Wadlan
A. Beard
M. de Lange
B. Sanderson
M. Foyle

Leicestershire

H. Azad
S. Evans
S. Sherbourne
T. Beasley
C. Ackermann
L. Hill
T. Taylor
A. Likely
C. Parkinson
N. Ellis
M. Piggot


We win the toss and put them in to bat, a massive advantage.

They are just 13-1 after the power play. We tie them down and they wickets start to fall as they desperately attempt to build a total. They make just 152 all out. Special mention to Sherbourne, just 22 and scoring a 50 in testing conditions with his team collapsing about him.

We take our time and make the total in just 36 overs Gill the only wicket to fall when we needed just one run to win.

Very one sided on paper but batting first was a handicap. Good to win after the disappointment of the T20 final.

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The last game of the season, Northamptonshire away.

The pitch is almost dead flat. Almost certainly a draw unless either team builds a 550+ and can put real pressure on their opponents.

We lose the toss and are asked to bowl.

they build some decent partnerships but van der Gugten takes 5-59 as we bowl them for 303, a last wicket stand of 50 irritating us. If we had got them for 260-70 it would have improved the chances of forcing a win. We respond strongly. 161 from Gill, centuries from Porter and Cooke and we declare on 518-7. Neither team broke free with the run rate, so there is a day and half a session remaining.

They bat it out, content with a draw. We do bowl them but there are only 10 minutes left.

A flat end to a really good FC season.

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Season Review

First Class

Position 1st, Division 2 (11th overall)
P14 W9 L1 D4 238 points, 35 batting, 39 bowling

We met our goal of achieving promotion, and did so in first place. Our bowling and the performances of our top 4 batsmen have been our bedrock. Our only loss was against Somerset, by far the best all-round team we faced this year and a taste of what’s to come next. Our lower middle order struggled without our first choice 5 while 6 and 7 were a real problem, areas we need to address to stay up next year.

Unlike last year it is not just the bowlers riding high in the national averages. Gill is top of the tree with Selman 4th, Jenkins 6th, Iqbal 8th and Porter 10th. Selman shares top spot for number of hundreds, with 5, and Porter is just behind with 4. Of the bowlers Foyle has the 4th best average, van der Gugten the 6th. Sanderson is the countries’ most economical bowler, followed by van der Gugten and with Foyle in 7th.

The top order of our batting has been excellent. Gill / Iqbal, Selman, Porter and Jenkins have been fantastic. Without Waites (which is often) 5 has been a struggle while 6 has been a big issue. We were fortunate that the top order more often than not performed so well that it didn’t always matter that the tail effectively started at 6. It will next year.

The bowling has been superb. Foyle has been our break through star, Sanderson has done exactly what we wanted of him. De Lange has exceeded his career averages but not been anywhere near last year. van der Gugten brilliant in the role of first change. We are, arguably, weak in the spin department.

There is now a larger core group of players which to build around, though little depth. Our main issue is going to be around the all-rounder slot. Wadlan’s batting has been an issue and he is not an economical enough bowler to force his way into the team as a specialist. Besides him there is no other all-round option. We need more, urgently. The obvious choice would be to strengthen this area with an international signing but I would be loathe to let Gill or Iqbal go as they formed the rock of our batting order.

Much will be decided on the transfer market. If there is a promising opener I could bring them in at three with Porter opening with Selman, Gill returning for the T20s and look for an international all-round spinning option. If there is an all rounder available then I could keep Gill and Iqbal but which bowler could I drop? Probably de Lange but the option of a fast bowler is always welcome. And then a replacement for Cooke.