It’s looking promising for Glamorgan, who are on a roll in the NatWest T20 Blast and top their group after an impressive away victory at Kent. Richard Thomas salutes that success and recalls how the county of Cowdrey, Ames, Underwood and Knott have often been undone by the daffodil.  

 

Glamorgan have enjoyed many fruitful trips to Kent in recent times.

In fact, the Garden of England has produced a crop of famous Welsh cricket moments; Canterbury tales of derring-do sometimes well against the odds. 

And though their latest NatWest T20 Blast victory over Kent may not match the county’s achievements in sealing the Sunday/One-day League titles in Canterbury in 1993 and 2002, it is a win that may go a long way to confirming their place in this season’s knockout stages. 

The result secured their top spot in the very tight South Group, a situation which has not been helped by the Welsh weather (four of the county’s home matches have so far been rained off). 

But generally, the sun has shone on Jacques Rudolph’s men as they have accrued enough wins and a healthy run rate to put them well on course for a quarter-final spot. 

Glamorgan held their nerve on Sunday to beat Kent by 25 runs. Kent were restricted to 174 for four in reply to 199-2 – an innings that was given impetus by Aneurin Donald’s 50 off 31 balls, giving some comfort to those who believe there are not enough dragons in a Springbok-dominated dressing room. 

It was the sort of resilient team performance that brings back memories of 1993 and 2002. 

In 1993 it was a straight showdown for the title between Glamorgan and Kent and the images of Tony Cottey, having hit the winning runs, and the tearful Viv Richards running from the field, celebrating the victory, are still vivid memories for many of the thousands of Welsh cricket fans who made the trip to the south east that day.  

Similarly, nine summers later – nearly 15 years ago – the pressure was on Glamorgan. They needed to beat Kent to stop a title showdown with Worcestershire the following week. 

They held their nerve that day, too, and emerged winners by only four runs.

The on-the-field highlights of that victory were 74 from Michael Powell and then three for 37 from Andrew Davies, who earned the prized wicket of Steve Waugh. Davies then produced a brilliant penultimate over.

With 10 required from six balls, Michael Kasprowicz conceded only six runs from the final over. 

The off-the-field highlights were an evening in the Bat & Wickets pub, just by the St Lawrence Ground where there was much singing and even more drinking  . . . and a few Canterbury tales that will remain on tour.