Glamorgan beat the Netherlands by five wickets in their T20 Friendly at Sophia Gardens in the first-ever meeting between the two teams on Welsh soil.
After opting to bat first, the Netherlands made a brisk start as Max O’Dowd struck some lusty blows in the opening overs from Marchant de Lange and Lukas Carey until falling to a fine catch at deep square-leg by Billy Root off Carey’s bowling. 28/1 saw the arrival of Ben Cooper who began by slashing de Lange square of the wicket for four. After an ambitious ramp shot for four against Carey, Tobias Visee miscued an upper cut high into Tom Cullen’s gloves, with the wicket-keeper being involved in the next dismissal as Wesley Barresi advanced down pitch to Owen Morgan and was stumped.
Captain Pieter Seelaar and Ben Cooper then accumulated in singles until Seelaar twice pulled Meschede for four. Cooper also pulled Labuschagne for six before cover-driving Root for four before the bowler re-arranged Seelaar’s stumps. Next over Labuschagne trapped Cooper lbw for 47 before Roman Walker removed Tony Staal with his first delivery as he holed out at deep extra-cover. Shane Snater drove Walker over extra-cover for four before using the long handle for club him to long-on for four and swat him over mid-wicket for six before drilling Walker over long-off for six run out from the final ball as the tourists ended on 164/7
David Lloyd and Craig Meschede began Glamorgan’s reply with the former driving Brendon Glover for four before the latter miscued a drive against Hilde Overdijk and skied the ball to point. Labuschagne joined Lloyd and square-cut Glover for four. Lloyd then swatted Overdijk through the covers for four before pulling him for six. He followed this with a rasping straight drive for four plus a scoop to the ropes at square-leg.
Labuschagne opened his shoulders to loft Snater for six over square-leg and through extra-cover for four. Lloyd then greeted young spinner Philippe Boissevein by twice straight driving him for four. He departed next over as he miscued a sweep against Seelaar to short fine-leg. 68/2 saw Root make his way to the middle and began with a trademark reverse-sweep for four before Labuschagne drilled Boissevain over cover for six before pulling him for another maximum next ball.
With the total on 93 Glover returned and uprooted Root’s stumps, with Dan Douthwaite coming in and pulling the seamer for four. But later in the over he holed out at deep square-leg. Labuschagne then brought up the hundred by driving Seelaar through the covers for four. Owen Morgan began with a series of singles before sweeping Boissevain for six.
Labuschagne completed his fifty with a rasping straight drive against Glover – his 34th delivery – before glancing Overdijk to fine-leg. He then holed out at deep square-leg for 59 with Wagg joining Morgan, who cover drove Overdijk for four before straight-driving Seelaar, with Wagg ending the game with another straight drive as Glamorgan won by five wickets.
A scorecard for the game is available at https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#m32e8e4ca-0639-4d5d-8f5d-800f8f23176b