Glamorgan Head Coach Robert Croft believes a \'freak situation\' on the first day at Sophia Gardens Cardiff played a big part in his side\'s eventual defeat to Kent in the Specsavers County Championship.
19 wickets fell on the first day with both sets of bowlers finding success, but Head Coach Croft was impressed by Glamorgan Pathway Players Nick Selman and Jack Murphy who batted throughout the early session on Friday.
"When I look at how our team performed on that first morning, we were able to get to 58 without loss in tricky circumstances.
"The composure that our young opening partnership of Selman and Murphy showed was terrific and after that the first day was very difficult to come back from. Had we taken two catches in one over when Podmore was on zero then maybe their lead would've been 40 less which would've brought us a little closer.
"19 wickets fell on the first day which showed how difficult it was to bat on that first day. After that the pitch dried out a lot and it became far more batting friendly. Murphy then in the second innings with Marsh had a partnership of over 100 gave us a bit of a chance. But when you're chasing 200 it goes one of two ways, you either cruise it or it becomes a real nipper and you win it as a bowling side."
The Welsh County benefited from pre-season preparations away in Dubai and Croft feels that it has resulted in a better early season showing with Leicestershire next up on Friday.
"The work that we've put together in Dubai has given us a better start this season. When you look at it we won a very tough game at Gloucestershire which was a brilliant performance. The weather at Lord's was terrible and halted any continuation of form. Coming into this game it was a freak situation on the first day which put us behind and we weren't able to come back.
"We realise it's a campaign, so we have to look at each game in isolation and make sure we use whatever disappointments we're feeling today, to motivate ourselves and get better for the next game.
"They [Leicestershire] have played some good cricket, they competed well against Durham. There's been quite a few runs scored up at Leicestershire so far this season and they've got a flat pitch going on up there. I think it'll be two teams that will be going hammer and tongs."