GLA vs ESS 64th Match - South Group Prediction

GLA vs ESS Team Previews

Glamorgan

Although Glamorgan is situated above Essex in the South Group points table, they lost their last game in the competition against Surrey. In a day/night affair played in Cardiff, Surrey won the toss and decided to bat first. They amassed an imposing total of 236 runs in their inning. The Surrey top-order batting was in top form as they annihilated the Glamorgan bowling attack to all parts of the ground. Laurie Evans hit a brilliant hundred and remained not out on 118 runs from 60 balls with 6 sixes and 12 fours.

Although Laurie Evans was the main destroyer in this game for Surrey, he was supported by Will Jacks and Sam Curran during the effort. Will Jacks had a 115 runs partnership with Evans for the first wicket from just 10.4 overs. Evans was involved in another 120-run partnership with Sam Curran in just 9 overs. Sam Curran hit 66 runs from 29 balls with 7 sixes and 1 four. The only Glamorgan bowler that returned with decent figures was Jamie Mcllroy. He also picked up a wicket giving away 33 runs from his quota of 4 overs.

The Glamorgan top-order batting tried their best to make a match of it. But none of them except Sam Northeast could convert their starts into a big score. Many batters in the top and middle order were among runs but Sam Northeast was the only one that hit a half-century. He scored 76 runs from 54 balls with 9 fours and 2 sixes to keep his county flag flying. But this was nowhere close to being enough as the Glamorgan inning finished on 171 for 8 from their 20 overs. Three of the Surrey bowlers picked up 2 wickets apiece viz. Gus Atkinson, Sam Curran, and Chris Jordan.

Essex

Essex on the other hand, has had the pleasure of winning their last couple of games in the competition. The last match they played was against Kent yesterday. This day-night affair was played in Canterbury. Essex recorded a reasonably comfortable win by a margin of 4 wickets and with 10 balls to spare. Batting first the Kent outfit managed to put together a modest total of 150 runs on the board for the loss of 8 wickets. The Essex batters chased down this target in the 19th over of their inning. Sam Cook for his wonderful bowling effort was named player of the match.

The top three batters for Kent all got into the double figures but only Joe Denly made a significant contribution of 39 runs from 39 balls with 4 fours. The impetus required for the inning, however, came from George Linde and Grant Stewart lower down the order. Stewart hit 37 runs from just 16 balls with 4 massive sixes. The player of the match Sam Cook was easily the top bowler for Essex during the Kent inning. He picked up 4 scalps in his 4 overs giving away just 18 runs in the process. Daniel Sams, Shane Snater, Simon Harmer, and Matt Critchley all picked up a wicket apiece.

Essex made a disastrous start to their campaign losing both the openers for naught. They were quickly reduced to 31 for 4 in 4.2 overs when Michael Pepper left the crease. Paul Walter scored a breezy 27 from 15 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes. But the real star of the Essex batting charge was Matt Critchley who hit 63 runs from 46 balls with 8 fours and 1 six. He remained not out and carried the bat through for Essex. There was useful support towards the end from the wicketkeeper-batsman William Buttlemen who scored 17 not out from 12 balls with a six and a four.