Today (20 September) is a memorable date in the history of Glamorgan County Cricket Club as, on this day in 1997, they defeated Somerset at Taunton to become county champions for the third time in their history. (writes Andrew Hignell)
Throughout the 1997 season Matthew Maynard`s team displayed tenacity and positive endeavour, with their collective efforts being wisely marshalled by new coach Duncan Fletcher, the former Zimbabwe all-rounder. His shrewd advice and analysis benefitted many of the younger players, whilst Matthew`s imaginative leadership saw Glamorgan win eight of their seventeen Championship fixtures.
Waqar Younis was the Club`s overseas player and he duly proved to be a talisman in Glamorgan`s success. The Pakistani pace ace handsomely repaid the money invested in him, taking 68 wickets at just 22 apiece. During June, he also produced two match-winning performances, with 8/17 against Sussex at Swansea plus a hat-trick against Lancashire at Liverpool in a stunning victory which put the Welsh county on top of the Championship table.
The presence of Waqar also meant that long-serving seamer Steve Watkin no longer had to shoulder the burden of being both strike and stock bowler. Steve had another fine season and, with Darren Thomas improving in leaps and bounds under Duncan`s tutelage, Glamorgan had an impressive pace attack, supported by the nagging seam of all-rounder Adrian Dale. In the spin department, Robert Croft was partnered by the promising left-arm spin of Dean Cosker, and, overall, Glamorgan possessed an attack that could prosper on every type of surface.
On the batting front, Steve James had an annus mirabilis, amassing 1,775 first-class runs, to be the country`s leading run scorer of the season. He also formed a wonderful opening partnership with the ever-dependable Hugh Morris, who began the season with a career-best 233 against Warwickshire and ended it against Somerset with his 52nd century for the county to draw level with Alan Jones` club record.
Hugh’s record-equaling feat came at Taunton as the Welsh county travelled to the West Country on 18 September, leading the Championship by just one point from Kent, and needing fair weather plus the small matter of a maximum of 24 points to make sure of their first Championship title since 1969. After winning the toss, Matthew invited Somerset to bat first, and despite suffering from a throat infection, Waqar claimed four wickets to dismiss the home side for 252. Andy Caddick took two early wickets, but Hugh and Matthew saw off the new ball and proceeded to share a superb partnership of 235 for the third wicket.
Their stand was achieved at a helter-skelter pace of six runs an over and, even more remarkably, the pair of Glamorgan batters kept up their brisk scoring rate in very gloomy light on the second afternoon. After a break for rain, all five lights at times were brightly shining on the scoreboard light meter, but Matthew gave an exhilarating display of controlled hitting, with the Glamorgan captain racing to a glorious century without even making a single. When he finally fell for 142, his breath-taking innings had lasted just 117 balls and had contained 28 fours and a six.
Hugh continued resolutely at the other end and consolidated on the good work the following morning, as Glamorgan advanced from their overnight 353-4 to a formidable 527. Hugh was eventually dismissed for 165 with 28 crisply struck boundaries, before Robert Croft and Adrian Shaw each chipped in with robust half-centuries, to give Glamorgan full bonus points and a healthy first innings lead of 275.
Somerset began their second innings after lunch, with their batters making a decent start before a fine spell from Darren changed things as the young bowler took five wickets. At 166-7, the Welsh spectators started to celebrate, but their actions proved rather premature as Graham Rose and Andy Caddick shared a defiant stand of 95 in 14 overs, before Steve Watkin returned to end the Somerset fightback, having Rose caught behind, besides adding the wicket of tailender Kevin Shine.
Dean then trapped Ben Trott leg before to leave Glamorgan needing just 11 to win. It took only eight deliveries before Steve James hit the winning boundary, and despite Kent defeating Surrey, Glamorgan had secured a full compliment of bonus points and their ten-wicket victory with a day to spare gave Matthew`s men a well deserved Championship title – their first for 28 years – with 20 September going down as a key date in the Club’s annals.