Friends Life T20, The Swalec Stadium
Glamorgan Dragons 137-3 beat Sussex Sharks 135-4 by 2 runs
By Jack Bradshaw
League leaders Sussex succumbed to a disappointing defeat at the hands of Glamorgan in the Friends Life T20 at the Swalec Stadium.
The Sharks were set only 138 to win and looked on course for victory at 78-0 but lost regular wickets to end up two runs short of the host’s total.
Sussex bowled well to restrict Glamorgan to a modest total of 137-3 from their 20 overs with Umar Gul (2-15) impressing with the ball.
The Pakistani seamer was making his debut for the Sharks after replacing Wayne Parnell as their overseas player and his four overs included a rare maiden in this form of the game.
The overseas contingent of Mark Cosgrove, Alviro Petersen and Jim Allenby all passed 30 for the hosts but the Dragons’ innings lacked momentum from the start as Sussex bowled economically.
In reply, openers Chris Nash (64*) and Ben Brown (42) got the innings off to a great start and the league leaders looked well on course for a comfortable win until Brown was bowled by former England star Simon Jones.
The Sussex batsmen struggled to hit boundaries on the ground which played host to England’s first Test of the summer against Sri Lanka, as they fell behind the run rate and closed on 135-4.
The Sharks don’t have long to regroup as they face third-placed Somerset at Taunton tomorrow night (Friday 24 June).
