MATCH PREVIEW:
Glamorgan take on Worcestershire at Sophia Gardens for a 3-day behind-closed-doors training match, as the Welsh county prepared ahead of the Rothesay County Championship season. Ahead of the pre-season friendly against Cardiff UCCE at Sophia Gardens starting 30 March, this game gives Glamorgan players the opportunity to roll their arms and warm-up ahead of the first block of fixtures in the 4-day format, which is set to begin on 4 April with a visit from Leicestershire.
Captain Sam Northeast said, "We are really excited to get out and play a match so early in spring, last year was almost impossible to have a pre-season at home, so we are quite lucky with the weather and the amazing ground staff that we can have a game on at this time."
This will be the first time Richard Dawson, the new Glamorgan Men's head coach, will be seen in the home dressing room, although the nature of the game means the players simply want to get some match practice ahead of the season.
Hence, the match will not be streamed. Glamorgan's matches will be streamed live for free on YouTube from the Rothesay County Championship season opener on April 4. Fans can get session-by-session update on the Club website and social media channels.
DAY 1
Morning session:
Despite a cold and cloudy morning, the skies turned blue towards midday and provided the perfect day for some pre-season cricket. Both teams unanimously agreed for the hosts to bowl first, and the Glamorgan bowlers marked their run-ups at Sophia Gardens after six long months. Timm van der Gugten and Jamie McIlroy started proceedings on Day 1 of this training match, and both bowlers started off slow and careful, making sure the rhythm and flow returned ahead of the Rothesay County Championship. The same could be said for the other bowlers who rolled their arms before lunch, including Andy Gorvin, Zain-ul-Hassan and Ben Morris, who all focused solely on getting through to the crease in full flow. Worcestershire batters enjoyed the sun baking down on a surprisingly-hard Sophia Gardens wicket in March, and collected 84 runs in the morning session without losing any wickets.
Afternoon session:
Glamorgan bowlers found a much better rhythm in the second session of the day, taking 5 Worcestershire wickets before the umpires called for tea. Ben Kellaway picked up the first wicket of the visitors after only three balls, before Jamie McIlroy and Timm van der Gugten picked up a wicket each in their third spells. Of-spinner Tom Bevan picked two wickets towards the end of the session, causing Worcestershire to lose half their side, along with opener Jake Libby who was retired out for 75. Worcestershire ended the session on 227/6.
Evening session:
Worcestershire declared their innings soon after tea on 334/8 in their 80 overs, which was agreed by both sides as a point of declaration. White-ball captain Kiran Carlson picked up a couple of wickets towards the end, with Worcestershire's lower-order batters going hard with no pressure to get out. In reply, Glamorgan sent Eddie Byrom and Zain-ul-Hassan out to the middle, after the duo suffered the majority of last summer injured. Byrom got out after surviving half an hour of player, quickly followed by captain Sam Northeast and vice-captain Kiran Carlson, as the hosts ended day 1 of the practice match on 16/3.
DAY 2
Morning session:
A 91-run partnership between Zain-ul-Hassan and Colin Ingram saw Glamorgan lose only one wicket in the morning session, ending on 124/4. ul-Hassan, who was eventually dismissed for 47 off 121 balls, looked solid in defence against the new ball, and started playing his shots to the fast bowlers after getting his eye in. Colin Ingram continued where he left off last season as he reached 49 not out, only a run behind yet another half century at the Home of Welsh Cricket. All-rounder Ben Kellaway was sent in at no. 6, and was successful in seeing off the final few overs before lunch.
Afternoon session:
Worcestershire bowlers found their full flow after lunch, taking 8 Glamorgan wickets in the afternoon session, as Glamorgan ended their batting innings on 185, with 13 batters enjoying some time in the middle. Colin Ingram was the first to depart, as he edged a full-length ball to the slip cordon, attempting to play an expansive drive through the covers whilst on 49. Billy Root, Andy Gorvin and Jamie McIlroy showed some resilience in the crease, but were dismissed by the visitors as tea was approaching. Worcestershire batters are set to begin their second innings on the final session of the day.
Evening session:
Glamorgan bowlers, particularly Ben Morris and Andy Gorvin, found much better rhythm with the new ball in the second innings, taking three wickets in the first twenty overs. Worcestershire were 59/3 after youngster Morris took his second wicket of the innings, but a final half-hour partnership ensured that the hosts ended another day's play on the frontfoot. However, playing their first match since the close of last season in September, Glamorgan looked an improved side as the sessions went by. The final day of this practice match starts at 11 AM tomorrow.