Powell and Thomas Lead Glam To Victory

Sparkling innings
By Edward Hall
April 9 2002

Darren Thomas and Michael Powell led Glamorgan to an improbable 4-wicket victory against the Western Province Academy side in their latest one-day tour match.

Glamorgan were reeling on 67 for 6 when Thomas walked out at number 8 to join Powell with 170 runs still required. After a good start, the middle order had simply capitulated from 62 for 1 with Maynard, Dale and Adrian Shaw all falling for ducks. However, the next 19.1 overs saw a magnificent partnership between Powell and Thomas, worth 172 runs, that was only stopped due to the fact that Glamorgan had raced past their target. Thomas, reaching his 50 in just 34 balls, set into the attack with relish. Powell was by no means overshadowed by the performance at the other end, reaching his half-century in 48 deliveries. The runs did not slow as the target neared, with Glamorgan winning with 77 deliveries unused. Powell finished on 86 not out, and Thomas was uneaten on 73.

Glamorgan had restricted their young opponents to 236 for 9 on a good pitch, with Robert Croft, Dean Cosker, Adrian Dale and Thomas all picking up 2 wickets apiece. Glamorgan had started their reply fairly well, with Ian Thomas and Keith Newell given the chance to open the innings. After this pair had put on 31, Croft and Thomas took the score to 62 with Glamorgan looking fairly comfortable in their run chase, which was only successful after ‘that’ worrying collapse from the middle order.

Glamorgan’s final tour match is on the 10th of April against a Hermanus XI.