Cricket: Glamorgan show excellence

Glamorgan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .316-8

Essex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .240-9

Glamorgan win by 76 runs

NOT long ago, a one-day victory over Essex was a considerable triumph; now, it has become a commonplace occurrence. They were overwhelmed at Sophia Gardens by an outstanding team performance by Glamorgan in the second round of the NatWest Trophy, and beaten by 76 runs.

Glamorgan began the day 162 for 3 with 34 overs remaining and after Matthew Maynard, who had held the innings together on Wednesday, and Tony Cottey had increased their fourth-wicket stand to 119 in 27 overs, Robert Croft and Ottis Gibson added 95 in 11 overs, taking them to 316 for 8 in 60 overs. Essex could manage only 240 for 9 in reply.

In the field Glamorgan's peformance was exemplary. All their bowlers contributed after Steve Watkin's opening over had gone for 11 runs. Roland Lefebvre's first eight overs brought him the wickets of Graham Gooch, lbw playing back to one which kept low, and John Stephenson caught behind pushing defensively, at a cost of only 14 runs.

At medium pace, there is no more accurate bowler in one- day cricket than Lefebvre nor is there a fielder with a safer pair of hands in the deep. Steve Barwick, at much the same gentle pace, bowled his first six overs for just 12 runs.

Robert Croft's 12 overs of off-spin accounted for Mike Garnham, caught behind off a reverse sweep for 54 runs. Then it was Gibson's turn and at a controlled fast-medium he took 3 for 34 in nine overs which won him the Man of the Match award. It was all a stranglehold grip Essex were unable to break.