Glamorgan need to sharpen up their T20 vision after disappointing opener

THE games keep coming thick and fast for Glamorgan, and the Welsh county will hope to quickly recover from a poor start to their NatWest T20 Blast campaign.

It was a mixed bag for the Welsh county in their T20 opener against Hampshire on Friday night, according to all-rounder Graham Wagg. The shortest format is so often their strongest suit but there was little to write home about after that 22-run defeat, aside from Wagg’s enterprising half-century.

Hampshire spin duo Shahid Afridi and Mason Crane tied the hosts in knots, as a bumper Welsh crowd watched Glamorgan succumb to a defeat that looked likely from the first ball. From the moment James Vince pummelled the Glamorgan bowlers, it was an uphill task. Hampshire’s 167 proved beyond reach.

“I don’t think we got off to the best start,” said a deflated Wagg after the defeat.

“It was lovely to see so many come down to support us and I think we let them down tonight. It was the first game so we’re not too disheartened. We showed some good stuff in between some bad stuff.

“It was a big mixed bag tonight but we started poorly and I think that’s what cost us. 168 (to win) was a bit over par but we were concentrating on chasing it down.

“A few bad balls bowled, you’re going to get that, but we’re really disappointed to lose.”

Attention now immediately turns to this afternoon and the clash with Sussex Sharks at Arundel. You’re only as good as your last performance and despite an excellent run in this competition last season – when Glamorgan were eventually foiled by Yorkshire in the quarter-finals – another defeat could prove to be a huge dent in their confidence.

Robert Croft has an army of young, precocious young cricketers and there was a glimmer of stardust in Aneurin Donald’s brisk 25 against Hampshire.

But David Lloyd and Kiran Carlson were both dismissed first ball. Kingpin T20 batsman Colin Ingram scored just one from four balls before he was out to Reece Topley; so much depends on the big-hitting South African and whether he can replicate his form from 2016. Michael Hogan was excellent with the ball and will need to maintain his unerring accuracy.

A win over the Sharks and Glamorgan will build some momentum, which is key with the fixtures coming thick and fast.

GLAM (PROBABLE): Donald, Lloyd, Ingram, Rudolph (capt.), Carlson, Cooke (wkt.), Wagg, Salter, de Lange, van der Gugten, Hogan.