First Selman sixes clinch true thriller
Alun Rhys Chivers sees a game where all three results were still possible going into the final over
Alikely follow-on became an unlikely victory at St. Helen’s, Swansea, as Glamorgan recorded their first win of their County Championship Division Two campaign, overcoming Durham by three wickets.
At 119-5 in their first innings, Glamorgan were facing yet another humiliating defeat. But a career-best 75 from Andrew Salter ensured Glamorgan not only avoided the followon, but that they had a first innings lead of 11 having earlier bowled Durham out for 342.
Paul Collingwood, who celebrated his 41st birthday on the first day with 127, finished on 92 not out in the second innings, having declared on 276-7 in order to set up a result.
Faced with the prospect of chasing 266 in 51 overs, Glamorgan opener Nick Selman hit an unbeaten 116 off 129 balls as the Welshmen reached their target with just three balls to spare in an exciting finale to the Swansea and West Wales Cricket Festival clash.
Colin Ingram had earlier passed 1,000 runs in all competitions on his way to a quickfire 42 in a stand of 73 with Selman, but it was the youngster’s partnership of 47 with Chris Cooke that swung the game back in Glamorgan’s favour.
At the stage when Glamorgan required 65 off 42 balls, it seemed an uphill struggle. But it soon became 44 required off 30, and 26 off 18. With 14 required from the final six balls, Selman delivered two huge killer blows as Glamorgan got over the line.
After his mammoth effort, Selman said: “My role at the start of the innings was to get through the new ball and to set it up for the others. It worked perfectly.
“We also rotated the batting order, keeping the left-handers Ingram and Bragg back, so that the right-handers could cope better with the spinners.”
On hitting the first sixes of his first-class career, Selman added, “It was enjoyable as I had gone 15 games without a maximum.
“Swansea is a happy ground for me, as I scored my first century here [against Northamptonshire] last year.”