Lloyd stays defiant on Glamorgan’s cup bid
WELSHMAN David Lloyd struck a List A career-best of 92 in a losing cause for Glamorgan on Wednesday night, but insists the county’s Royal London One-Day Cup hopes are not over yet.
That’s despite a third successive loss in the 50-over format for the Welsh county as an agonising tworun reverse to Middlesex came off the back of defeats to Gloucestershire and Somerset.
It leaves Glamorgan joint bottom of the South group after three games with Lloyd’s batting form one of the few positives for head coach Robert Croft and his staff.
Croft has therefore named a youthful squad for the trip to Kent – who are also without a win – today (11am) with Glamorgan needing to win all of their remaining games to stand a chance of qualifying for the semi-finals. Ruaidhri Smith, Jeremy Lawlor and Tom Cullen are all competing for a place in the side.
But Lloyd, despite the demoralising 50-over form, vowed to keep fighting with a defiant answer when asked if Glamorgan’s chances of reaching the knockout stages were over.
“It looks that way but you never know in this game,” said the North Walian.
“We’re capable of winning every game, because of this format anyone can beat each other but if we get that crucial win Friday then in a sense we’re still alive.
“All of our batters seem to be getting in, we just haven’t quite been able to get over the line. There are still a lot of things to improve on, we need to work hard, back each other and enjoy the game.
“You don’t want to lose the enjoyment of this game and the spirit in the dressing room that comes with that.”
Lloyd has been a shining light in a struggling Glamorgan team that has won just once this season so far, adding Wednesday’s 92 to scores of 45 and 35 in the One Day Cup, plus a crucial century in the County Championship.
On his own game, which is vastly improved from a 2017 campaign blighted by injuries and poor form, the 25-year-old was upbeat.
“Last season I felt as though I had a huge weight on my shoulders through my lack of form,” Lloyd added.
“This year I’ve just been more positive, if it isn’t my day it just isn’t and if I’m going well then so be it. For me it’s all about taking one game at a time and enjoying the game I play.”
The county also confirmed that red-ball skipper Michael Hogan has been sidelined for up to three weeks with a hamstring strain.
Hogan suffered the injury while playing for Glamorgan against Somerset at Taunton in the Royal London-One-Day Cup on Sunday.
Fast bowler Marchant de Lange also suffered a hamstring injury during Glamorgan’s match with Middlesex and the club await results of a scan to determine its severity.
Glamorgan (probable):
Selman, Donald, Marsh, Ingram (capt.), Lloyd, Cooke, Wagg, Salter, Smith, van der Gugten, Carey.