Point made, but it’s a slow start to bid for glory in T20 by Glam

ONLY 15.3 overs were possible in the Vitality Blast match between Gloucestershire and Glamorgan.

The home side won a crucial toss and invited Glamorgan to bat first in what was an unexpected prompt start at 2.30pm, with more rain forecast for the remainder of the match.

An unchanged Welsh side got off to a solid start thanks to David Lloyd, who struck a series of boundaries off David Payne and Matt Taylor in the opening exchanges.

However, his partner Jeremy Lawlor, fresh from an impressive 43 against Somerset at Cardiff on Thursday night, holed out to longon in the third over off Payne, who claimed a rarely seen T20 wicketmaiden.

Colin Ingram continued the onslaught for a while, despatching Ryan Higgins for four and six in the fourth over but after launching AJ Tye for six over square-leg into the hospitality marquee, he was caught at cover from the next delivery as Glamorgan ended the powerplay on 44 for two.

Only one more delivery was possible before a rain break, and David Lloyd was caught at third man off Howell for 21.

Roughly 40 minutes later, Gloucestershire continued to pile the pressure on Glamorgan as Owen Morgan was run out without facing, leaving the Welsh side in deep trouble at 44 for four.

Chris Cooke despatched a series of shots to the boundary before Benny Howell bowled him off the inside edge, before also dismissing Billy Root leg before in his next over.

In his fourth and final over, Howell struck twice to remove Dan Douthwaite and Graham Wagg, both caught on the leg-side drive by Jack Taylor, as he finished his allocation with five for 18.

But another big downpour brought proceedings to a stop once more at 96 for eight and the match was abandoned shortly before 5pm.

Glamorgan will be relieved to have salvaged a point, but have now failed to register a win in their first two matches after an eight wicket defeat to Somerset on Thursday.

An inexperienced Glamorgan team – three players were making their T20 debuts – lost with two overs to spare.

Despite an excellent start, Glamorgan should have scored in excess of 200, but instead of consolidating they lost three wickets in three overs and were grateful to Colin Ingram for enabling them to reach a challenging total of 180 for five.

Put in, Glamorgan reached 50 in the fourth over and 70 at the end of the six over power play.

Lawlor making his debut in the competition, set the tone by striking early boundaries and lifting Jamie Overton over long-on for six.

After reaching 95 for one at the halfway stage, Glamorgan fell away in mid-innings and had Ingram not blasted a 28-ball halfcentury, including three sixes and two fours off the final over, their score would have been well below par.

The opening partnership of 82 was broken in the ninth over when Lawlor, who scored 43 from 30 balls was caught on the long off boundary off Van Der Merwe.

David Lloyd was the next to go after scoring 57 from 37 balls when he was deceived by Craig Overton’s slower ball, giving short square leg a simple catch.

Two wickets then fell for three runs as Chris Cooke (14) became Van Der Merwe’s second victim and Dan Douthwaite fell for two.

Needing 181 to win at nine runs an over, Somerset’s Tom Banton scored 22 from Marchant De Lange’s opening over and 50 coming from only four overs. On a perfect batting pitch, runs continued to be plundered.

Banton soon reached fifty with a high proportion of boundaries – five sixes and four fours – as Somerset raced to 100 in the ninth over and from that platform, they powered to victory.

Glamorgan next play Surrey at the Kia Oval on Friday (6.30pm).