Despite being dismissed by the Sussex Sharks for 101 in 13.2 overs, Glamorgan clinched a home quarter-final as their contest at Hove was washed out with the home side on 30/1 from 4.1 overs and with Essex defeating Middlesex at Lord’s, no other team can surpass their total of 18 points.
It was a three-horse race involving Gloucestershire, Glamorgan and Middlesex for the top two places in the South Group – and a home quarter-final - with Glamorgan two points behind leaders Gloucestershire and two points ahead of Middlesex. A victory tonight (or one point from a tie) for Glamorgan at Hove, plus an Essex victory against Middlesex at Lord’s would be enough to clinch a home quarter-final for the Welsh county.
Rain delayed the start until 7.50pm with the game reduced to 14 overs. Glamorgan fielded the same eleven which defeated Somerset last Friday night at Cardiff with David Lloyd and Mark Wallace opening the batting as Tymal Mills .began with three no balls and a wide in his opening over, but to the final ball of the over, Wallace spooned a catch to cover. Colin Ingram began by steering Jofra Archer through the gully for four before hoisting the young Bajan over long-on for six.
Next over Ingram also miscued a drive against Mills with Harry Finch at mid-off running in to complete the catch. Lloyd responded by pulling Archer for four but later in the over, he also chipped the ball to backward point as Glamorgan ended the powerplay on 34/3. It then became 37/4 as next over Aneurin Donald pulled George Garton to the fielder at mid-wicket.
The clatter of wickets continued as Wagg clipped Garton to third man for four before being caught and bowled next delivery, and then to the first ball of the next over, Rudolph skied a drive against Beer to point. 51/6 then became 56/7 as Garton bowled Andrew Salter. Timm van der Gugten after clipping Garton to fine-leg for four was caught at backward square-leg attempting the same stroke.
62/8 saw Michael Hogan join Craig Meschede and the Australian responded by driving Beer straight for six. Meschede then off-drove Jordan for four before swatting the bowler to mid-off as Matt Machan took his fourth catch. Hogan then edged a drive against Jordan for four before Shaun Tait twice square-cut Archer for four.. Hogan then drove Jordan to mid-off as Machan completed his fifth catch.
Chris Nash launched the Sharks chase by swatting van der Gugten’s first delivery over point for four, before doing the same in Tait’s opening over, but the paceman had the last laugh as the opener miscued to Lloyd at cover. Phil Salt came in and pulled van der Gugten for four but the rains then returned with Sussex on 30/1 from four overs causing the loss of a further over and a revised target of 96 from 13 overs, but only one more ball was possible from Michael Hogan before the precipitation returned.
A further five balls were needed to constitute a match, but the rains continued and with Essex mounting a thrilling run chase at Lord’s to defeat Middlesex, the game was abandoned with Glamorgan securing the one point they needed for a home quarter-final