Career-best performances by Asa Tribe (63*), Ben Kellaway (53) and Mason Crane (4/20) helped Glamorgan get back into winning ways as the Welsh county defeated Gloucestershire, the reigning Vitality Blast T20 champions, by 40 runs at Bristol. (writes Andrew Hignell)
It had been quite an eventful twenty-four hours for Ben Kellaway having been in A&E at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff for several hours as his chin was stitched up following the injury he sustained on Saturday evening during the defeat against the Sussex Sharks at Sophia Gardens. He was then at the crease to face the third ball of the Glamorgan innings – delivered perhaps appropriately by David Payne given Ben’s evening in hospital – and twice in the opening over he survived sharp run out chances before nurdling the final ball of the over from the left-armer to third man for four.
In Payne’s next over, the young tyro outside-edged the bowler for four before cover-driving him for another boundary, as well as top-edging him through the wicket-keeper’s gloves for four. After Kiran Carlson miscued to mid-wicket, Kellaway square-cut Graeme van Buuren for four prior to adding another boundary to his tally as a firm straight drive saw the ball ricochet off the stumps at the bowler’s end and through the despairing fielder’s hands.
Colin Ingram also found the ropes as he straight drove D’Arcy Short for a straight six before Kellaway cover-drove the Australian, followed by a reverse-sweep against Tom Smith who, later in the over, was lofted for a straight six by Ingram. Kellaway duly completed his maiden fifty from 30 balls by savagely pulling Zaman Akhter for six before next over being stumped after advancing down the pitch to Oli Price. Shortly afterwards, Glamorgan lost another wicket as Ingram, after harpooning Smith for six over mid-wicket, holed out at deep backward square-leg.
Asa Tribe then took centre-stage, announcing his arrival by sweeping Smith for six before feasting on Short in the penultimate over with a ferocious late cut for four, followed by a massive pull for six, a straight drive for four plus another pull for six. He followed this in the closing over by drilling Payne over extra-cover for four before completing his maiden fifty with a huge six over long-on – his 25th delivery – followed by another maximum over mid-wicket as Gloucestershire haemorrhaged 39 in the last two overs with Tribe ending on a career-best 63 from just 28 balls.
Chasing 190, Cameron Bancroft struck Timm van der Gugten for six and four in consecutive balls but these were brief moments of aggression during the powerplays, with the uber-accurate Imad Wasim having Miles Hammond caught at deep square-leg by Kellaway as Gloucestershire meandered to 30-1 after six overs. Bancroft then swept Crane’s first delivery for four before pulling Leonard to the ropes to bring up the fifty in the ninth over.
Short attempted to up the tempo by reverse-sweeping Kellaway and straight-driving a full toss from young bowler as the home team’s task became 122 from the last ten overs. He also swept Imad for four but, next over, the spinner - who was positioned at short third man - pouched a top edge as Short attempted to repeat the stroke against Crane. Bancroft scythed Douthwaite over the mid-wicket ropes, but the Gloucestershire innings lost momentum again as Crane trapped Price l.b.w.
Ned Leonard then snared Jack Taylor who top-edged a ball to Ingram at fine-leg before Crane claimed two wickets in his final over as Ben Charlesworth drove straight into the hands of Will Smale at long-off and Bancroft top-edged a reverse-sweep to Imad who was again stationed at short third man. Graeme van Buuren struck a couple of defiant blows in the closing overs including a towering straight six against Douthwaite before Imad removed Akhter and Payne in his final over as the former holed out to long-on and the latter tamely chipped the ball back to the bowler. Leonard also removed Dale who miscued to cover as Glamorgan eased to a 40-run victory which leaves Gloucestershire still seeking their first win in the 2025 competition.