The second in the series of weekly features looking back on some of the highpoints and personal milestones achieved during the 2016 season by Glamorgan players focusses on the achievements of Owen Morgan, for whom 2016 was a debut season.
After several years of appearing for the county’s 2nd XI and the Wales Minor Counties side, Owen made his first-class debut when the Welsh county visited Hove in early July, with spinner delivering a marathon spell of accurate left-arm spin. Later in the match, Owen displayed his batting abilities, and it was these the following month which saw the graduate from Cardiff University hit the headlines during Glamorgan’s five-wicket victory against Worcestershire in their match in the Specsavers County Championship match at New Road.
His outstanding efforts came after Glamorgan were set a target of 277 by Worcestershire from 105 overs, and despite a decent spell in the field, Owen was back in the middle as Glamorgan’s night-watchman after just three balls as Nick Selman departed in the opening over. The 22 year-old duly remained in the middle for the rest of the match and almost 24 hours later, cover drove Charlie Morris with aplomb to record his maiden century as well as winning the match for his delighted team.
The previous person to achieve the feat of a century as night-watchman had been Eifion Jones who struck an undefeated 146* in the draw against Sussex at Hove in 1968. On that occasion, Eifion – who had joined the county’s staff as a batsman wicket-keeper - had been promoted from the number 8 position to number 4. In contrast, Owen had been elevated up from number 9 to number 3, and his achievement – whilst numerically less than Eifion’s - may have been greater, given the context of the match and the overall result in Glamorgan’s favour.
Further details about Owen’s debut season will appear in the 2017 Glamorgan Yearbook, which is due to be published in March. To place an order at the special advanced price of £16 (plus £1.99 postage), please send an email to museum@glamorgancricket.co.uk or write to Yearbook Orders, c/o Archives Department, Glamorgan CCC, The SSE SWALEC, Cardiff, CF11 9XR. Please note that from December 1st, the Yearbook will be available at £17 (plus £1.99 postage).