Glamorgan began the 2001 campaign with a 4 run victory over Worcestershire in at Kidderminster.It was an encouraging all-round performance in bitterly cold conditions, and Glamorgan`s win was even more praiseworthy given the limited amount of outdoor practice that has been possible at Sophia Gardens so far this season.

The Welsh county batted first and amassed 187-7 in their 50 over allocation. Mike Powell top scored with 53 - a very fluent innings which included 10 crisp boundaries and ended when Powell was stumped going down the wicket, attempting to hit another boundary off spinner Matthew Rawnsley. Acting captain Adrian Dale also made a valuable 47*, and shared a useful partnership of 64 for the sixth wicket with Alex Wharf.

Chasing a target of 188, Worcestershire never really recovered from a top order collapse which saw them lose 4 wickets for 16 runs in the space of 8 overs. The bowler responsible for their early troubles was Andrew Davies, who finished with figures of 3-23 in a hostile spell seven over spell. The young all-rounder, who was sidelined by injury for much of 2000, Another young bowler to make a heartening return to action was Simon Jones. The pace bowler took two wickets in his opening over, and ended a useful innings from Worcestershire wicket-keeper Steve Rhodes.

With Rhodes` departure at 112-7, a Glamorgan victory appeared to be a formality, but Andy Bichel, Worcestershire`s new overseas signing, then shared a stubborn partnership of 55 with Stuart Lampitt which gave the home county a glimmer of hope.

With 24 needed off the last four overs, Adrian Dale recalled Darren Thomas and he duly trapped Lampitt leg before. Some lusty blows by Bichel took the game into the final over, but Alex Wharf bowled the Australian paceman with the fourth ball of the final over to give the Welsh county a much deserved vicory.

All in all, a very encouraging performance for Glamorgan with both bat and ball, supported by razor sharp ground fielding, plus some stunning catches i9n the cold conditions, especially by Mike Powell at slip, and a one-handed effort by Keith Newell.

© Glamorgan CCC