Cooper’s attack in vain as Glamorgan take another win

Cooper’s attack in vain as Glamorgan take another win

Glamorgan 43-1 (Rudolph 10*, Ingram 12*) defeated Somerset 159-5 (Cooper 84*) by 2 runs (D/L)

A blistering 84* from Tom Cooper was not enough to deny Glamorgan their third T20 victory in a row, as they triumphed by 2 runs via the Duckworth Lewis method in Cardiff. Somerset posted a total of 159/5 from their 20 overs, whilst the Welsh county replied with 43/1 from the 6 overs possible in their innings. With the par score at the end of the powerplay being 41, when the match was finally called off at 6pm Glamorgan were able to confirm their victory.

It was a shame that the weather arrived when it did, as a very intriguing match had been developing between two sides whose aspirations lie far beyond the group stages.

On a sluggish pitch, and with unusually large square boundaries at The SSE SWALEC, Somerset struggled in the face of some disciplined and skilled bowling from Wayne Parnell and Michael Hogan. Parnell, in particular, extracted real movement from both the surface and through the air under leaden skies. The South-African accounted for the out of form Trescothick with just his fifth delivery, skidding one through to trap him LBW on the back pad.

Allenby, on his return to his former county, could only muster 11 from the other end, before edging one through to Jacques Rudolph from the impeccable Parnell. When Peter Trego fell to Craig Meschede for just 7, Somerset were rocking at 26/3, having already used up nearly 8 of their batting overs. What followed next was entirely out of the blue.

With the pitch apparently a minefield, and Glamorgan bowling and fielding with the confidence of a side that have registered back to back T20 victories, Tom Cooper launched a quite stunning counter attack. After a relatively sedate start, Cooper got moving with a sumptuous lap-sweep for six to the fine leg boundary from the bowling of Graham Wagg.

Cooper reached his half-century from just 30 balls as he heaved Meschede for two colossal legside smites, well into the far reaches of the grandstand. Aided by Lewis Gregory, Cooper helped Somerset amass an astonishing 78 from their last 5 overs, as Cooper moved from 27 to 84 in just 18 deliveries.

Having been reduced to 85/5 with less than five overs to go, 159/5 represented a significant comeback for the West Country side. Glamorgan will have been disappointed with the manner in which their fielding subsided, albeit in very difficult conditions. Meschede, Hogan and Rudolph were all guilty of dropping a catch in the deep of varying difficulties.

As the drizzle closed in around the ground, Glamorgan began their reply with skipper Rudolph and new opener Meschede at the crease. It was Meschede who got the innings moving along, as he thrashed Allenby for two sixes in three balls, before departing to Sohail Tanvir after a nonchalant one-handed boundary catch from Gregory.

Colin Ingram joined his compatriot and captain at the crease, and the two moved Glamorgan along to 43/1 after 6 overs before the rain set in for good.

Speaking after the match, Glamorgan captain Jacques Rudolph was quick to highlight the importance of his pace trio comprising Wagg, Hogan and Parnell.

“Mentally, Parnell is over his injury. It’s nice because between Parnell, Hogan and Wagg we always have two available for the end. We all know that Hogan is a star performer for us” Rudolph said.

“We’ve got a bit of momentum now, and a big four-day game in the week against Surrey that could see us get second in the Championship.” He concluded.

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