Ingram optimistic after Glamorgan win Twenty20 opener

Gloucestershire 161-9 (20 overs): Charlesworth 56, Price 37; Douthwaite 4-30, Mcllroy 3-30
Glamorgan 162-8 (19.1 overs): Ingram 47, Carlson 35; Payne 3-17
Glamorgan (2pts) won by two wickets

In new limited-overs coach Mark Alleyne’s first game in charge, the Welsh County kicked off their Twenty20 campaign with a two-wicket victory in the battle of the Seven Bridge.

Without leading overseas paceman Michael Nesser through international commitments, bowlers Dan Douthwaite (4/30) and Jamie Mcllroy (3-30) particularly impressed gaining career-best figures as Gloucestershire were restricted to 161/9 at the midpoint.

With his side in the ascendancy, the South African-born batsman’s 47 run knock in a partnership of 69 with Kiran Carlson proved decisive in a vital period of the visitor’s chase putting Glamorgan in control of the tie.

In a match of twists and turns that made the result closer than imagined, Glamorgan found themselves in a spot of bother at 137/7 with three overs remaining. A combination of superb bowling and fielding by Gloucestershire giving the hosts hope with several eye-catching catches in the field.

Alleyne’s side though were never behind the run rate, regrouped and crossed the line with five balls to spare thanks to the heavy hitting of Dutchman Timm van der Gugten and won with two wickets and five balls remaining.

After seeing his side pick up their first victory of the campaign, Ingram is pleased to see even though his side were not at their best throughout they have points on the board.

“It’s great to spend some time in the middle. In the end, I would have loved to have been out there but fortunately, Tim [van der Gugten] and Ruaidhri [Smith] got knocks under pressure and played some big shots and we came away with the win,” said Ingram. 

“I thought 160 odd on a pretty good wicket we should have chased down a lot easier. I was pretty nervous, it is the first outing, and we clearly made a few mistakes. There is some really exciting stuff though as well.

“Our bowlers were superb. They had one partnership that put us under some pressure, and we dropped a catch which probably added to that, but the guys responded again at the death and closed the innings up well. 

“Gloucester are always a gutsy unit and they pride themselves on their fielding. A few of those one-handed catching tonight created a lot of pressure on us, and we were fortunate to get home.

“There were a number of semi-new faces around and they started to put up their hands tonight, which I think is exciting for us going forward.

“Dan [Douthwaite] getting four wickets in a game and Jimmy [McIllroy] bowled some nice overs up front. Ruaidhri Smith bowled beautifully and varied his options really well after a bit of absence from the squad too.

“We were coasting along nicely and had all of the momentum and then it sort of came unraveled a bit with good fielding and a couple of questionable shots but hopefully going into the next game we’ll be more polished.”

Glamorgan have today announced that Australian leg-spinner Peter Hatzoglou will join the county as cover for Michael Nesser for the next four matches of the campaign. The 24-year-old who has Hundred and Big Bash experience will go into the squad for the upcoming Vitality fixtures.

The Welsh county will next travel the short journey down the west country to The Cooper Associates County Ground in Taunton (6.30pm) to face Somerset on Sunday looking to make it two wins in two.

(Lead image: Glamorgan County Cricket Club)