Glamorgan secured their second consecutive win in the Vitality Blast by defeating Essex by 26 runs in Cardiff. A strong batting performance from the middle-order and an outstanding bowling display led them to their fourth victory of the tournament.
Batting first, Glamorgan posted a total of 182 for eight, with Colin Ingram leading the charge with 47 runs. He received substantial support from Marnus Labuschagne and Chris Cooke, setting a challenging target for Essex.
A promising partnership between Adam Rossington and Paul Walter initially put Essex on track for a successful chase. However, the combined efforts of Labuschagne and Mason Crane stifled their progress, securing the win for Glamorgan.
Essex managed to score 156 before being bowled out, with Walter top-scoring at 53 runs.
Essex's bowling strategy kept Glamorgan on their toes early in the innings, making eight bowling changes in the first eight overs. This tactic yielded 43 runs and two wickets during the PowerPlay.
Glamorgan's openers fell quickly, with Will Smale top-edging a sweep shot off Simon Harmer and being caught by Robin Das, while Kiran Carlson was dismissed for 11, edging a delivery from Ben Allison to Adam Rossington.
A 49-run partnership between Tom Bevan and Marnus Labuschagne helped Glamorgan recover. Bevan scored 23 before being caught behind off Matt Critchley’s bowling.
Labuschagne, Ingram, and Cooke's experience proved crucial, contributing significantly to Glamorgan’s total. Labuschagne stabilised the innings with 30 runs off 26 balls before being bowled by Critchley. Ingram and Cooke then added 67 runs for the fourth wicket, with Cooke hitting 38 off just 18 balls. Both were dismissed in the final overs, seeking quick runs, with Cooke falling to an impressive boundary catch by Ben Allison.
Timm van der Gugten’s early strikes left Essex struggling at 27 for three. He trapped Dean Elgar lbw for 4, bowled Michael Pepper, and had Robin Das caught behind. Despite the early setbacks, a brilliant 83-run partnership between Rossington and Walter revived Essex’s hopes. Walter scored 53 off 33 balls before Dan Douthwaite dismissed him.
Rossington was caught by Labuschagne for 41 in the next over, leaving Essex at 113 for five. Crane and Labuschagne then dominated the middle order, keeping the run rate high and taking five wickets between them. The two leg spinners bowled eight overs for just 48 runs, leading to Essex being bowled out well short of the target.