Derbyshire remain in the south west for their second Metro Bank One-Day Cup game, hopping over the border from Cheltenham into Wales to face Glamorgan at Neath.
Heritage Officer David Griffin previews the fixture.
It’s highly unlikely that there will be many Derbyshire supporters who can recall Derbyshire’s previous – and only – match at Neath, as it is 75 years since the counties met in June 1950 when the hosts won a County Championship game by 92 runs.
An indication of how long ago this fixture took place is that two players in Derbyshire’s eleven – Charlie Elliott and Denis Smith – had played in the county’s 1936 Championship-winning side. And so for this writer, this is a wonderful opportunity to visit a new ground which will surely attract a large number of Derbyshire supporters.
Derbyshire have a good one day record against Glamorgan having won 28 of the scheduled 52 matches, with Glamorgan winning 18 and five matches falling foul of the weather.
One game was tied, at Derby in 1999 as a Derbyshire side stricken by injuries was forced to re-register former players Simon Base and Frank Griffith, although in the event only the latter played.
Glamorgan totalled 207 for eight in 45 overs and with Derbyshire on 83 for six the visitors seemed set for victory before Ian Blackwell, four days short of his 21st birthday, made a magnificent 97 including three sixes and six fours. Blackwell and last man, reserve wicketkeeper Steve Griffiths, came together with 45 runs required to win but with the scores level Blackwell was caught behind the wicket attempting to win the game and reach his hundred at the same time.
The highest profile match between the two sides was the Benson and Hedges Cup semi-final at Swansea in 1988 when Derbyshire won by 14 runs. Michael Holding’s five wicket haul helped his side to victory, the most dramatic moment coming when he hit Matthew Maynard on the head with a short-pitched delivery causing Maynard’s helmet to become dislodged, falling onto his wicket.
The highest innings totals by both sides came in the same game at Derby in 2023 when Derbyshire’s 298 for eight was overtaken by Glamorgan’s 299 for the loss of only three wickets.
Six Derbyshire players have made one day hundreds against Glamorgan including Phil Sharpe whose 111 at Chesterfield in 1976 was the first in this form of cricket for Derbyshire. John Wright and Peter Kirsten both made hundreds in 1979 before Kim Barnett and John Morris scored 100 not out in the same innings of a game at Heanor in 1989. Chris Bassano made the other ton, the highest of 121, at Cardiff in 2003.
Glamorgan’s seven one day hundreds were recorded by Hugh Morris (2), Alyn Evans, Colin Ingram, Matthew Maynard, Viv Richards and Younis Ahmed, the highest being Ingram’s 115 at Derby in 2023.
With the ball, Dominic Cork recorded the best figures taking six for 21 at Chesterfield in 1997, while apart from Holding’s five for 31 at Swansea in 1988 Graeme Welch took five for 22 at Derby in 2001.
Graham Nicholson registered Glamorgan’s best figures against Derbyshire of six for 36 in a Player’s County League game at Ebbw Vale in 1969, before Malcolm Nash, Geoff Holmes and Steve Barwick all subsequently had five wicket hauls.
Holmes’ effort was remarkable – he only bowled 14 balls and took five wickets for two runs at Ebbw Vale in 1984.
