Colin Ingram has warned his Glamorgan team they need to stop throwing away winning positions if they are to stay in the Royal London One Day Cup.
With the tournament having only begun last week, Glamorgan are already close to being ruled out of contention following three successive defeats.
That sequence has put them bottom-but-one of the South Group and means Friday’s visit to Kent is already a must-win fixture if they are to have realistic hopes of making the knockout stages.
The Welsh county’s latest defeat came at Sophia Gardens on Wednesday evening when they contrived to let slip a commanding position to lose by two runs against Middlesex.
Skipper Ingram admitted: “I feel like we have been playing good cricket, but we’ve only been at about 80 per cent and when you are facing the quality of sides that are around at the moment, then that doesn’t quite cut it.
“We are finding ways to lose games, when we haven’t been winning. It was a tough one to take.
“We put ourselves in a good position, but it was unfortunate neither me nor David Lloyd was able to go through and finish things off.
David Lloyd, Glamorgan v Gloucestershire – Royal London One-Day Cup. Pic: Getty Images.
“We have to dust ourselves down, take the positives from this performance, and make sure we come back strongly again.”
Head coach Robert Croft has named a 13-man squad as Glamorgan travel to Kent in a bid to put that narrow defeat to Middlesex behind them.
Jeremy Lawlor is included in the squad for the first time this season after some eye-catching batting displays for the 2nd XI, which included a century against Somerset 2nd XI at Newport earlier this week.
All-rounder David Lloyd hit a List A career-best 92 against Middlesex and feels Glamorgan must win every remaining game in to stand a chance of featuring in the knockout stages.
“It looks that way but you never know in this game,” said Lloyd.
“We’re capable of winning every game, because of this format anyone can beat each other but if we get that crucial win Friday then in a sense we’re still alive.
“All of our batters seem to be getting in, we just haven’t quite been able to get over the line. There are still a lot of things to improve on, we need to work hard, back each other and enjoy the game.
“You don’t want to lose the enjoyment of this game and the spirit in the dressing room that comes with that.”
Having endured a difficult season last year, Lloyd credits his form – which has already seen him hit both a career-best First-Class and List A score – with a change in mindset.
“Last season I felt as though I had a huge weight on my shoulders through my lack of form,” Lloyd added.
“This year I’ve just been more positive, if it isn’t my day it just isn’t and if I’m going well then so be it. For me it’s all about taking one game at a time and enjoying the game I play.”
Glamorgan 13-man squad to face Kent: Ingram ©, Selman, Donald, Marsh, Lloyd, Cooke, Wagg, Salter, TVDG, Carey, Lawlor, Smith, Cullen.