With Glamorgan CCC pressing for qualification for the quarter-finals of the Friends Life t20, there is a buzz of excitement around the SWALEC Stadium ahead of Friday night's match against the Northants Steelbacks. But the feelgood factor currently permeating the headquarters of Wales' first-class county also extends to other representative sides and junior teams within the Principality.
Earlier, this week the Wales Minor Counties maintained their unbeaten record this season in the Minor County Championship by defeating Oxfordshire by 35 runs at Abergavenny, with the side - led by Glamorgan old boy Darren Thomas - now having won all four of their matches in the competition to clinch a spot in third place in the Western Division table, just two points behind leaders Cheshire.
The victory at the picturesque Avenue Road ground in Abergavenny was set up by half-centuries in the first innings from Sean Griffiths and Rhodri Evans, plus one in the second innings from Jon Denning. Aneurin Norman also took 6/16 in Oxfordshire's first innings before adding three more scalps to his tally as the visitors attempted to chase 236. Jon Denning and spinner Nick Davies also claimed three wickets apiece as Oxfordshire were dismissed for 190.
The Wales Under 14 side have also tasted success this week, recording a fantastic win against Devon in a four-team tournament at Taunton, thanks to a partnership between opener Elis Richards (106*) and Morgan Murray-Williams (42*). The five-wicket victory was achieved with five balls to spare and follows up an earlier victory in the tournament over Gloucestershire, to set up a final contest against an unbeaten Derbyshire team.
Batting first, Devon scored quickly, with Morgan Murray- Williams (2/31) and Prem Sisodiya (2/36) the pick of the Wales bowlers. In reply, Wales recovered from the loss of early wickets, with Morgan Murray-Williams surviving a hat-trick ball to set up the winning stand with Elis Richards, who achieved his century at great pace, at a run a ball.
Adam Shantry, another Glamorgan old boy who is the coach of the Wales Under 14s said "It was a great effort from the boys to pull off this win. We've got some real prospects in the side and the performances of the two batsmen to get us over the line are just two of the stand-out performances we've witnessed whilst we've been in Taunton. The team is enjoying this tournament so far and we go into the final game against Derbyshire, which will be a tough match, with a great deal of confidence."
