Stevens 100 eclipsed as Ingram and Cooke grab Glamorgan win
Tuesday 28th July 2015
Chris Cooke's 94 from 54 balls eclipsed a Darren Stevens all-round masterclass to edge a see-saw Royal London One-Day Cup contest in Cardiff.
Stevens struck 110 off 64 balls as Kent posted 317-7 with half-centuries for Sam Billings and Sam Northeast after being invited to bat first.
After a sixth List A century, the 39-year-old took 1/38 from ten overs with the ball before a rain delay which changed the course of the clash.
With five overs left, 60 were needed, the South African batsman smashed seven sixes and four fours to win a remarkable game with two balls remaining.
Earlier, Kent captain Northeast (74) and wicketkeeper Billings (56) laid the foundation with a partnership of 104 in 18 overs for the third wicket.
Glamorgan’s bowlers did well to restrict Kent to 218 for 7 with 10 overs remaining, but Stevens then accelerated hitting six sixes and nine fours.
He was eventually caught on the long-on boundary by Dean Cosker off Michael Hogan in the final over who then dismissed Fabian Cowdrey in a similar manner the next ball.
Cosker was the pick of the Glamorgan attack with long-serving wicketkeeper Mark Wallace recording his 1000th dismissal in his 16year career.
Glamorgan soon lost Rudolph in the third over, but the left handed combination of Will Bragg and Colin Ingram counter attacked with a flurry of boundaries.
Ingram soon reached fifty from 47 balls with the 100 run partnership reached in the 21st over.
Bragg also reached his half century, and after 25 overs Glamorgan were 121 for 1, nine runs behind Kent at the halfway stage.
The partnership of 136 was eventually ended when Bragg drove a low full toss back to Ivan Thomas, who, taking evasive action, completed the catch in front of his face.
Aneurin Donald was sent in with licence to attack, but the 18 yr old, after striking two fours was caught at short fine leg by Daniel Bell-Drummond.
Glamorgan’s progress was restricted by accurate bowling from Stevens and Tredwell in the middle overs before Ingram reached his first century for Glamorgan.
The former South Africa batsman fell in dramatic style as an acrobatic Billings brilliantly caught him at full stretch off an edge from a Matt Coles delivery.
After a brief rain delay, Glamorgan needed 95 from 46 balls and Cooke reached 50 off 36 balls.
Cooke had a reprieve when Thomas caught and bowled a miscued shot before the TV umpire Stephen Gale adjudged the 23-year-old has overstepped the crease before the South African secured the win with two balls to spare.