By Edward Hall
May 6 2002

Glamorgan lost the third game of their Benson and Hedges Cup campaign by 5 wickets against Worcestershire at New Road to end any slim hopes they still had of reaching the quarter finals. The pattern of the game was very like the two played so far. Although the batsmen scored a total of 191, the highest out of the three innings, and the bowlers picked up 5 wickets in reply, the score showed that it was another comfortable win for the opposition. Worcestershire’s opening bowling pair of Andy Bichel and Matt Mason removed the Glamorgan openers with only 35 on the board. Steve James soon followed without scoring (another failure for him after previous scores of 2 and 14), and although Croft and Dale scored 20 and 42 respectivly, the damage had already been done. Mark Wallace, in the team in place of Matt Maynard, who is out for 8 weeks, continued his good batting form, making 31, his highest score to date in one-day matches for Glamorgan. He and Kasprowicz, whose contributions with the bat have so far outweighed any with the ball, put on a valuable 34 for the eighth wicket and the target of 192 that was set was approaching something that could be described as defendable.

But, yet again, a lack of early wickets meant that the game was effectively over already by the time Croft picked up Stephen Peters to end an opening stand of 112. Peters played patiently for his 36, but it was Vikram Solanki’s run a ball 90 that ensured victory. Andrew Davies and Owen Parkin were in the team to give a change but neither made an impression in coneding over 5 runs an over. Kasprowicz was again economical, but his lack of wickets is becoming a worry. Thomas’s 2 wickets gave Glamorgan hope at 151 for 3, but acted as nothing more than consolation.

Glamorgan will be looking for a morale boosting victory in their final game against Warwickshire at Cardiff tomorrow before getting back to the Championship routine when they face Worcestershire again this week.