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Glamorgan, champions of Wales

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  • #16
    Then away to Middlesex. A game we would ideally win and must not lose if we wish to get into the top half of the table. No Hemphrey, Labuschagne or van der Gugten so we go for Selman, Brown, Porter, Root, Cooke, Douthwaite (for his batting), Wadlan, Wagg, de Lange, Hogan and Carey. The pitch is absolutely flat. If we bat first there may be a slight chance of being able to force a win but it seems unlikely. We win the toss and bat first.

    Porter has been struggling for form but is eased back to hit his maiden FC century as we post a fairly low, slow, 356. Middlesex also find it slow going but finaly declare for 369-9 after we bog down the tail.They must hoping for some sort of result.

    We stutter along, finally declaring 199 runs ahead with 40 overs remaining on a still dull pitch. I would go for it. You would go for iy. They go for it.

    Hogan and de Lange tear through five wickets in extended opening spells, Wadlan takes three and Carey one and we have 5 overs to get that last wicket. With 95 remaining Helm slaps the penultimate ball to silly point off Wadlan. We win!
    Last edited by cde; 08-09-2020, 10:41 PM.

    Comment


    • #17
      Our last three T20s of the group stage. Guptil is away again but van der Gugten back. We win all three, the last in spectacular fashion when 80* from Cooke and a T20 career best 25 from Hogan takes us from 104-8 to chase down 162 with two balls and a wicket remaining.

      We finish top of the group, 11 wins from 13. I half expected us to reach the knock-out stages but not be so successful. With a fair wind we could reach the final.

      The bowl first strategy has worked wonders. We have bowled first on 13 occasions and won 11 of them. Our bowlers have dominated the opposition.

      We conceded over 129 just three times, 166, 188 and 162. We chased down the 162 and put down at least two chances down in both the other matches.

      Nine time we bowled out the opposition, twice we had them 9 down. We kept the total below 100 on 5 occasions, the lowest being Essex for 58 othewise, we conceded between 108 amd 129.

      This is just as well because without Guptil it has fallen to Cooke to score almost all the runs. Selman has done well in his own way - his average of 40 is impressive but his strike rate of 94 explains why we can struggle to chase down the simplest target.

      IF we bowl first and take wickets we could win this, however if we fail to take our chances or a batting attack gets stuck in to us we are very unlikely to chase down anything over 140. We have struggled with 108. If we bat first we are also unlikely to set a target that gives the bowlers some leeway and are unlikely to win.

      Comment


      • #18
        We now start the OD group matches. And the hundred.

        2019 was a good year for English cricket. We were hosting a global tournament in an exciting but nuanced format of the game and one of the favourites to win. There was some drama to get through the group stage but two convincing wins set up an exciting final. For the first time since 2005 people who were not cricket fans paid attention. A thrilling final, won as much through serendipity as skill brought renewed interest and enthusiasm for cricket and Ben Stokes' match winning performance in the Ashes kept it up.

        So to capitalise on having spent years building up the one day team, hosting and winning an international one day tournament and with renewed interest in cricket, the one day format especially, the ECB decided to launch a whole new format of the game, one that required tweaking about with the rules slightly to make the game fit the title they had thought up.

        Because the summer schedule was already bursting at the seams they scheduled it to run at the same time as the domestic one day tournament, and just to be sure of success it farmed out the very best of England's OD players out to the new franchises.

        So now all of the most tallented limited overs players in England (and Wales) will now play the huge total of zero 50 over matches a year. After all there won't be another 50 over international tornament now we've won it, will there?

        Rant over. Maybe.

        Comment


        • #19
          Back to the OD matches. We lose three players to the hundred, de Lange, Ingram and Cooke. We lost one of our opening bowlers and our first (only?) choice middle order. Labuschagne returns but while his OD average is healthy his strike rate is not. He might have been ok if he was playing in 1979.

          Our cronic lack of depth is shown again but at least squad selection is straight forward with so little to choose from. Root looks like his OD average is ok but again his strike rate...

          We go for
          N. Selman
          D. Lloyd
          J. Porter
          M. Labuschagne
          B. Root
          T. Cullen
          B. Wadlan
          G. Wagg
          M. Hogan
          T. Van der Gugten
          K. Bull (if spinning), L. Carey (if not)

          Our strong T20 performance engenders some confidence that the same tactics will work again. Much harder without de Lange though. Selman, Labuschagne and Root might get us the runs but at a rate that is likely to makes anything over 220 a struggle.

          Comment


          • #20
            We qualify for the knock-out stages, winning 6 from 8 alongside Northamptonshire and Warwickshire.

            An easy win to start off then a thumping loss to Surrey, two wins then another miracle match against Yorkshire when Hogan and Carey's last wicket stand of 78 sees us chase down 252 with a ball to spare. Carey, however is dropped - he is averaging 92 - and Smith comes in as he is the only bowler with any 2nd XI form.

            Another win then Labuschagne is called up. With few options we plump for new youth player Rob Evans. His career average looks poor but he's ripping it up in the 2nd XI. It is us, however, who are ripped up, falling for 174 chasing 238. Two more wins and we are through to the quarter-finals.

            We bowled first on 7 occasions, winning five and won the only time we batted first. Hogan, Wagg and Wadlan have bowled well but van der Gugten has struggled opening the bowling while Carey, Smith and Bull have merely made up the overs most of the time.

            Labuschagne and Root have been our best batsman but with averages of 54 and 37.83 at a strike rste of just over 75. Enough said about our middle-order powerhouse.

            We bowled out the opposition for less than 190 twice, 217 three times, once for 228 and 250+ twice. At no time did our batsmen not struggle.

            If we lose in the quarter final against Kent I will be happy enough.
            Last edited by cde; 08-10-2020, 09:15 PM.

            Comment


            • #21
              Challenge Trophy Quarter-Final, Canterbury.

              Pitch: a little bounce, spin.

              The teams line up as:

              Kent

              D. Bell-Drummond
              S. Dickson
              A. Balbarinie
              H. Kuhn
              J. Kerr
              O. Robinson
              D. Stevens
              M. Henry
              S. Sharif
              M. Miles
              I. Qayyum

              Glamorgan

              N. Selman
              D. Lloyd
              J. Porter
              R. Evans
              B. Root
              T. Cullen
              B. Wadlan
              G. Wagg
              M. Hogan
              T. Van der Gugten
              K. Bull

              We win the toss and put them in to bat.

              Hogan and van der Gugten open the bowling. At the end of the power play they are 34-0, a slight worry as we usually get at least one wicket. Wagg and Bull both have a five over spell, Bull taking the wickets of both openers to hold them to 66-2, a good spell from both. Van der Gugten returns at one end with Wadlan the other. Wadlan takes the wicket of Kuhn but Balbarinie is the one doing all the running down the other end, 112-3 at 30. Wagg and Bull return. No wickets and Kent start to strike out, 175-3 with ten overs remaining, Wadlan and Hogan to bowl out the match. Wadlan takes both settled batsmen, Balbarinie for 112, in a couple of overs but Robinson hits a quick, fine 38 before Hogan takes three in the last over and we have a total of 252 to chase down. Oh dear.

              Lloyd is out quickly and cheaply (as ever), 41-1 at the end of the power-play. Selman goes for 39, Porter and Evans stick around but the required run-rate is slipping ever higher. We up the aggression, Evans falls for 21 (off 51) but Porter now has highest and only significant OD score yet but the req. R-r is over 6. We go for it T20 style, Root smashes 38 from 16 and we are back below 5. We push it to 4.6 when takes Porter and Wagg in subsequent balls. We no longer hope with the expectation we once had and pull back the aggression slightly. For the second time this year Cullen pulls a performance out of the bag, his 35 from 43 being enough to take us home with 8 balls and 3 wickets to spare. I hang my head for having so little faith.

              A good win, Porter's 79 from 93 all but winning the match for us. If I had another option at three his form would have kept him out of the match, averaging 19.86 in the group stage. On to the semis!
              Last edited by cde; 08-11-2020, 04:57 PM.

              Comment


              • #22
                Challenge Trophy Semi-final against Gloucestershire, Bristol.

                Pitch: dead flat.

                Ingram, Labuschagne, Cooke, de Lange all return, boosting confidence.

                Teams:

                Gloucestershire

                J. Bracey
                C. Dent
                C. Pujara
                G. Roderick
                I. Cockbain
                J. Taylor
                R. Higgins
                B. Howell
                G. van der Buuren
                T. Smith
                J. Shaw

                Glamorgan

                N. Selman
                J. Porter
                C. Ingram
                M. Labuschagne
                C. Cooke
                B. Root
                G. Wagg
                B. Wadlan
                M. Hogan
                M. de Lange
                T. van der Gugten

                We win the toss and put them in to bat.

                Hogan and de Lange open the bowling, 35-1 at the end of the power-play. Wagg and van der Gugten take over, 77-2, going well but could do with one more wicket. Hogan returns with Wadlan and put in potentially match winning spells holding them to 95-3 after 30 overs. Two more wickets in the next ten overs and we could keep them below 200. Wagg and van der Gugten take just the one wicket and they reach 135-4 with ten overs left. We should keep the total low but Cockbain is well settled. Wadlan and de Lange finish off and they break out, finishing 215-9.

                This is our match to lose. Which we don't, losing just two wickets. If we can bowl first in the final we could be taking home silverware.

                Comment


                • #23
                  We have two FC matches next and first up we welcome Nottinghamshire. Last time put we were well beaten but this time they are missing both Broad and Abbas so we have a better chance. The pitch is bouncy with some spin and overcast for all but one session. There is a lot of rain forecast for day four. There is some debate as to bat or bowl first if given the choice. I decide we would bat first since the pitch will deteriorate and offers a greater advantage than the weather which is about the same throughout. We field our first choice side, Selman, Hemphrey, Porter, Labuschagne, Root, Cooke, Wadlan, Wagg, Hogan, de Lange and van der Gugten. They win the toss and put us in to bat.

                  Battinb is difficult but Porter's 95 and Labuschagne's 56 form the backbone of our innings as we slowly make it to 285, Fletcher taking 5-92. We take Slater and Nash for ducks, Macleod and Mullaney fight back but we bowl them for 219, van der Gugten taking 5-59.

                  With what should be a good lead in the conditions we slowly try to build a total. Rain delays and good bowling make it hard going and with some hesitation we declare on 147-4, Selman scoring 70. If there is not as much rain as forecast and they dig in the total is quite achievable if the forecast holds it will be touch and go to get them out in the time. Duckett, Nash and Clarke dig in and the rains come vut a quick burst of wickets give us hope. Trego drops anchor and there's more rain but eventually we bust through, Trego eventually nicking off in the penultimate over. Hogan takes 6-47. A great win.

                  Comment


                  • #24
                    We are still in 5th place with 129 points but just 17 behind second place Nottinghamshire and eleven above 6th place Derbyshire, our next opponents. This is game we could do with winning and can not afford to lose.

                    The pitch is flat. Absolutely dead flat. It will be a surprise if this doesn't end in a draw. We win the toss and bat first.

                    Porter and Labuschagne again form the backbone of our innings with 82 and 53 but we manage to get just 295 on a pitch that promises 450. de Lange takes 5-95 but Reece hits a century and Hosein 80 to take them to 316. We try to build a lead but can't get out of second gear without losing wickets, taking 124 overs to reach 230 all out. They chase the total with intent but we take wickets and get them down to seven and they back off. A stalemate is reached and it's a draw.

                    The result keeps us in 5th, just a point behind Middlesex and 13 behind third placed Sussex, Notts and Durham pulling away.

                    Comment


                    • #25
                      T20 Quarter-final against Lancashire, Cardiff.

                      No Guptil, again.

                      The pitch is bouncy with some spin.

                      The teams are:

                      Glamorgan

                      N. Selman
                      D. Lloyd
                      J. Porter
                      C. Cooke
                      B. Root
                      K. Carlson
                      B. Wadlan
                      G. Wagg
                      M. Hogan
                      M. de Lange
                      T. van der Gugten

                      Lancashire

                      L. Livingstone
                      K. Jennings
                      J. Bohannon
                      G. Maxwell
                      A. Davies
                      D. Villas
                      L. Wood
                      J. Faulkner
                      T. Bailey
                      G. Onions
                      M. Parkinson

                      We win the toss and bowl first.

                      A great start, Livingone and Jennings out for ducks in consecutive overs before their middle order fights back, each getting to the mid 30s to post a stiff 162-7.

                      Our top order is out fairly cheaply but 47 from 32 from Cooke with strong hits from Carlson and Wadlan see us home.

                      Comment


                      • #26
                        T20 Semi-Final against Northamptonshire, Cardiff

                        Pitch bouncy with some spin.

                        Lloyd is injured so the batsmen all mobe up one and Cullen comes in at 6.

                        Northamptonshire field

                        J. Cobb
                        A. Rossington
                        P. Sterling
                        R. Vasconcelos
                        R. Levi
                        A. Wakely
                        G. Berg
                        F. Ashraf
                        A. Todd
                        G. White
                        B. Glover

                        They win the toss and put us in to bat.

                        By the end of the power play we ar just 15-2 but Root clicks then Cullen smashes a 50 and with a strong hit from Wadlan we manage to post 166-7.

                        We have then 31-3 at the enx of the power play before Vasconcelos tears into us, posting 79 with Levi, adds 23 more with Wakely taking them to 133-5 wuth 5 overs left. We rip through the tail and bowl them 18 runs short with 2 balls to spare.

                        A very good win, Cullen being an inspired move by an obviously inspirational captain. Or a bit of good luck.
                        Last edited by cde; 08-11-2020, 09:56 PM.

                        Comment


                        • #27
                          T20 Final against Yorkshire, Lords

                          Pitch: no bounce, some spin.

                          We are unchanged, Yorkshire's line-up:

                          T. Kohler-Cadmore
                          J. Bairstow
                          J. Root
                          D. Malan
                          G. Balance
                          J. Tattersall
                          D. Willey
                          A. Rashid
                          K. Maharaj
                          B. Coad
                          M. Pillans


                          With their big guns back, this could be tough. However, our bowling unit must be the best performing this season. If we can bowl first I fancy our chances, though they have the batsmen to cause havoc.

                          We win the toss and bowl first.

                          de Lange takes Kohler-Cadmore in his first over, Root in his second and we are on top. Bairstow hits a powerful 36 but every time a player makes a few boundries we get their wicket. We bowl them for 116 with eight balls to spare.

                          This is our game to lose and despite Rashid taking Selman, Root and Carlson in one over it is an easy win to take the trophy.

                          Comment


                          • #28
                            Two FC matches, the Challenge Cup final and a last FC match to finish the season. We could not have asked for a better three FC matches to finish - Sussex, Leicestershire and Worcerster. If we can beat Sussex we could step up one, maybe two places and with Leicestershireand Worcestershire the lowest placed teams we could finish strongly.

                            First, we welcome Sussex. We win the toss and bat first. We look to make the most of the advantage, aggression curtailed in favour of ensuring a good score. Hemphrey and Selman post a century partnership, their best of the year by far. They get Porter and Labuschagne cheap but 50s from Root, Cooke and Wadlan take us to 398 and moving the match our way. Salt hits 92 and Bopara a quick 50 but we bowl them for 273.

                            Selman and Hemphrey again start well until Selman is taken out by a short one but we easily build a lead and declare on 229-4 dec, a target of 344 in a day. We take three quick wickets but Head, Bopara and Brown score quick half centuries. We tighten up and one through the middle order wrap them up with 41 runs left.

                            A great win, we leapfrog Middlesex to sit in third.

                            Comment


                            • #29
                              We play Leicestershire, on a high but missing our most reliable opener. The batting order shifts up and Cullen comes in at 7. Our lack of physio slots is starting to tell, especially on the bowlers.

                              The pitch is bouncy with a little spin, we are inexplicably asked to bat first.

                              A few overs in and it turns out the forecast for clear skies was wrong and the clouds roll in. Porter is out quickly but a century from Labuschagne and 70s from Root and Cooke and despite Gavin Griffiths takin 590 we post 395. Leicestershire put up some resistance but we bowl them for 261, a commanding position.

                              Labuschagne scores another 70 but we otherwise struggle to 237 all out with just over a day to play. They attempt the chase and we bowl them in 35 overs.

                              A good, dominating win. We are now on 182 points, 11 behind 2nd placed Notts and 21 above 6th place Sussex. Knowing we will play Worcestershire last is comforting.

                              Comment


                              • #30
                                Challenge Trophy Final against Northamptonshire, Lords.

                                Pitch: flat, a little spin.

                                No Selman or Ingram, we field:

                                J. Porter
                                C. Brown
                                C. Cooke
                                M. Labuschagne
                                B. Root
                                T. Cullen
                                B. Wadlan
                                G. Wagg
                                M. Hogan
                                M. de Lange
                                T. van der Gugten

                                Northamptonshire

                                J. Cobb
                                R. Vasconcelos
                                R. Levi
                                R. Wakley
                                E. Gay
                                R. Keogh
                                G. Berg
                                F. Ashraf
                                A. Todd
                                G. White
                                B. Glover

                                We lose the toss and are asjed to bowl first. Do they not learn?

                                de Lange and Hogan tear through the top order, 35-3 at the end of the power play. Another quick wicket before Gay (a new youth player) and Keogh dig in. There is a stalemate where they can only score at 3 an over but we can't get a wicket. They eventually break out and we take both and wrap up the tail in the final over, all out for just 191.

                                We make steady progress, Cooke and Root scoring the majority of the runs to lift our secong limited overs trophy of the season.

                                Comment

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