Glamorgan show true form to continue run

Glamorgan brushed to one side their woeful County Championship form yesterday to continue their National Cricket League title defence in style with their third consecutive victory.

They were in inspirational form, despite Saturday's County Championship defeat by Somerset, and romped to a 10-wicket success at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff against Gloucestershire under the Duckworth/Lewis method after the game was restricted to a 26-over match because of rain. Acting captain Robert Croft and Ian Thomas were superb with the bat and steered Glamorgan home with 22 balls to spare.

The home side won the toss, put the visitors into bat and were soon taking wickets. Alex Wharf was once again the star as he took four wickets for just 18 runs in a dazzling six-over spell, while Croft took two wickets and Andrew Davies three. Gloucestershire lost their first wicket with only eight runs on the board and when it looked as though the South African Jonty Rhodes might come to the rescue, he was caught behind off the bowling of Davies for a duck.

Gloucestershire did make a partial recovery with a six-wicket stand of 39, but then lost four wickets for just eight runs and closed at 133-9 off their 26 overs. Glamorgan came in and immediately looked impressive with Croft making 60 and Thomas 71 and they reached their target in just 21.2 overs.

Northamptonshire Steelbacks dropped their first National League points of the season as the Division Two game against Derbyshire Scorpions at Wantage Road was washed out just past the halfway point. The home side struggled to 131 for nine in 33 overs after rain, and Derbyshire – needing 131 to win under the Duckworth/Lewis method – had made five without loss after three overs when the weather closed in again.