Ten games in, four to go: Glamorgan have enjoyed a stellar T20 season so far, with just two defeats and seven victories – many of them very convincing – now the Welsh county are targeting a quarter-final spot. Here, we take a look at all Glamorgan\'s results this season to date.
May 26: Glamorgan Beat Surrey By Eight Wickets
Timm van der Gugten was the star of the show as Glamorgan began their T20 Blast campaign with a bang, storming to a stunning victory over Surrey at The Kia Oval. In front of the Sky Sports cameras, Glamorgan dismissed Surrey for just 93 all out, silencing the home fans in the process.
Van der Gugten took 4/14, while there were two wickets apiece for Dean Cosker and Craig Meschede. Captain Jacques Rudolph then led from the front with a composed 34 not out and David Lloyd hit 31. Colin Ingram returned to the side in style, hitting a six off his first ball, but it was left to Aneurin Donald to hit the winning runs and send the Welsh fans wild.
Highlights:
June 1: Essex Win By Seven Wickets
Glamorgan’s flying start was tempered by New Zealander Jesse Ryder, who smashed 42 off just 23 balls to help Essex chase down 140 in 16.2 overs at The SSE SWALEC. Earlier, Donald had top-scored for Glamorgan with 51 but the total was never going to be enough, as Essex’s medium-pacers David Masters and Ravi Bopara restricted Glamorgan to just 36 off their combined eight overs.
It was a sobering night for Glamorgan, especially after making such a great start to the NatWest T20 Blast against Surrey, but afterwards Rudolph called for a quick recovery.
June 3: Glamorgan Bounce Back Versus Hampshire
Donald smashed a career T20 best 55 in 27 balls, while Ingram hit 43 off 30 balls in a dominant Glamorgan performance over a Hampshire side which included Darren Sammy and Shahid Afridi.
Hampshire’s total of 141 proved inadequate on an excellent pitch at The SSE SWALEC and despite losing a couple of early wickets, Glamorgan delighted a bumper Cardiff crowd by cruising to claim their second triumph of the competition. It was a near-perfect night as the crowd basked in sweltering sunshine and saw the Welsh county cruise to victory.
June 10: Glamorgan Beat Gloucestershire In Bristol
Another T20 match, another win for Glamorgan. Again it was Donald and Ingram who combined to steer the visitors to victory in this clash after a superb opening spell by Dale Steyn.
Glamorgan proved too strong for their opponents thanks to a couple of early wickets in the hosts' innings as well as 48 not out from Donald and Ingram's rapid 64. The pair added 89 in eight overs to all-but seal the win. There was brief controversy as well, as Gloucestershire’s Aussie bowler Andrew Tye was removed from the attack by the umpires after bowling two waist-high full tosses.
Highlights:
June 15: Taunton Wash-Out
A mouth-watering clash between Glamorgan’s Dale Steyn and Somerset star Chris Gayle was on the cards before persistent rain put pay to the game at Taunton. A drenched outfield meant the umpires quickly abandoned the game, with both Glamorgan and Somerset earning one point each.
June 17: Glamorgan Claim 55-Run Victory Over Spitfires
A rain-shortened match at The SSE SWALEC saw David Lloyd smear an astonishing 97 not out, while Ingram was again in the runs with 60, to inspire Glamorgan to another comfortable win, this time over Kent Spitfires.
Despite losing the loss, Glamorgan proceeded to rack up a mammoth 175/4 in their 16-overs. It was too much for the Kent batsmen, who fell some margin short of the score. Steyn’s pace yielded four wickets and Michael Hogan took 3/12 in three overs to ensure Glamorgan stayed firmly at the summit of the South Group.
June 24: Glamorgan Smash Surrey Again
Glamorgan continued their imperious T20 form with another comprehensive victory. In Dale Steyn’s final game for the club, the Proteas quick snared 2/20, while Dean Cosker took his 99th and 100th career T20 wickets to ensure Surrey scored no more than 110. It was a below-par total from a dangerous side that included Dwayne Bravo and Kumar Sangakkara, but Steyn, Cosker and Graham Wagg all took two apiece.
Colin Ingram and Jacques Rudolph then helped the hosts to victory. Ingram carried his astonishing form into the game with 73 while it was Rudolph playing the anchor role with 40 not out.
July 7: Glamorgan Hammer Sharks
A total of 159/8 proved more-than enough for Glamorgan to stroll to their fifth consecutive T20 win, this time over Sussex. David Lloyd was again in the runs with 81 from 55 balls, before van der Gugten led a superb bowling effort. The Dutchman took 4/17 to decimate the Sussex bowling lineup and reduce the visitors to 113 all out.
It was a perfect debut for Glamorgan's Shaun Tait, who replaced Dale Steyn as the county's overseas bowler.
Highlights:
July 8: Richmond Visit Brings Another Win
Glamorgan's bowlers ran riot once more in the unfamiliar surroundings of Richmond's Old Deer Park, as Middlesex were uprooted on their home turf. Van der Gugten, Tait and Micahel Hogan were the tormentors in-chief, each taking two wickets to limit the home side to 144/8.
Only Eoin Morgan (58) and Ryan Higgins (57) provided any resistance, before Lloyd (49) and Mark Wallace (69*) dominated the Middlesex attack to guide Glamorgan to victory by nine wickets. Colin Ingram then hit three sixes to conclude the match in style.
July 10: Gloucestershire End Glam's Winning Streak
Glamorgan only made 119 at The SSE SWALEC, a target which was easily reached by Gloucestershire's Michael Klinger and Ian Cockbain, who both made half-centuries.
Earlier, Graham Wagg hit 32 off 23 balls to finish Glamorgan's innings with a flourish, but the total proved to be a few runs short. Gloucestershire took the victory to jump to the top of the South Group, though Glamorgan can return with a win on Thursday against Hampshire.
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The Welsh county have 15 points from 10 games, and two games in hand on Gloucestershire. A victory against Hampshire on Thursday would go a long way towards quarter-final qualification. But the home T20 versus Somerset in Cardiff on July 22 could seal Glamorgan's place in the knockout stages if Jacques Rudolph's side can claim victory.
Don't miss Glamorgan's final Friday night game in Cardiff, from 7pm on July 22 against rivals Somerset. Secure your seats by clicking here.