Another Blast for Ingram as Glam grab win

COLIN Ingram was at his brutal best in smashing a career-best 114 from only 55 balls as Glamorgan clinched a thrilling five-wicket win over Essex in a NatWest T20 Blast encounter that went right to the wire.

The runs flowed freely at Chelmsford and that was never more apparent than when Ingram was at the crease, the destructive left-hander, who was dropped on 13, butchering eight fours and nine sixes as Glamorgan evetually overhauled Essex’s 219 for four.

It was the South African’s third T20 century and his second in successive Sundays after an unbeaten 101 against Sussex at Arundel. His third one-day century on the trot at the Cloudfm County Ground lasted just 55 balls.

When the big-hitting batsman departed after being run out by Mohammad Amir, it was left to Craig Meschede to get the visitors over the line, and he did so with aplomb by clearing the boundary with two required off the final ball of the innings.

That left Varun Chopra on the losing side, even though the Essex opener registered his maiden T20 century with a splendid 103 not out from 59 balls, while Ravi Bopara can count himself equally unfortunate after a cameo 63 from just 32 deliveries.

But the Essex pair played their part in a thrilling clash which contained 29 sixes – 15 from Essex and 14 from Glamorgan – on a day where 443 runs were scored.

Ingram said: “I’ve enjoyed my last couple of seasons coming out to Essex.

“There is often a short boundary and I try and get my wrists involved to pick it out. I’ve been a bit lucky coming here, a few half-chances have gone down, but I just try and take advantage. It’s a nice wicket with a quick outfield. Sometimes you just have grounds you enjoy going to.

“We were able to play with a lot of freedom today, chasing a big target. I enjoyed the partnerships with different guys. We’re starting to build better partnerships and that’s helping us get these big scores.

“I was quite committed to seeing it through to the end of the game. So to come off feeling I’d left the boys something to do wasn’t great. But credit to the guys who batted at the backend, they held their nerve and it was an incredible win.

“Craig Meschede and Waggy played beautifully to get us home. It was another last-ball finish and nice to be on the winning side.”

Essex’s Chopra added: “Colin Ingram has been playing well all season and he’s struck it brilliantly.

“We didn’t quite take our chances to dismiss him, they were difficult chances, but I guess against a good player, in good form in a good wicket with small boundaries you’ve got to try and clutch one of them.”