Croft dedicates T20 success to Glam great ‘Shep’
ROBERT Croft has dedicated Glamorgan’s stunning NatWest Blast T20 quarter-final triumph to county great Don Shepherd.
‘Shep’, one of the finest players to have worn the daffodil crest, died last Friday and after watching his side hammer Leicestershire by nine wickets in Cardiff to clinch a place in Finals Day for the first time since 2004, Croft said the victory offered a fitting tribute.
“That was for Shep, the man epitomises what a Glamorgan cricketer should be — tough as granite on the field, smooth as silk off it,” he said.
“He made Glamorgan Cricket Club what it is today and his spirit will carry on.”
The Welsh county produced a dominant display at the SSE Swalec on Wednesday evening, banishing the demons of their no-show against Yorkshire at the same stage and at the same ground a year earlier.
A disciplined bowling display saw the home side skittle the Foxes for just 123, then skipper Jacques Rudolph and compatriot Colin Ingram overcame the early loss of opener Aneurin Donald to see the side home with more than six overs remaining.
“Twelve months ago we didn’t show up and there were a lot of disappointed faces but the most disappointed were the players,” added Croft.
“Hopefully, we’ve righted that a bit, but we’ve still got unfinished business which hopefully we’ll take care of at Edgbaston.”
Ingram’s unbeaten 43-ball 70, coupled with a miserly spell of one for 19 off his four overs, saw him claim the man-of-the-match gong.
And afterwards the South African echoed his coach’s sentiments.
“We had to right the wrong from last year,” said Ingram.
“To hear the crowd cheering and chanting, we can get excited about Finals Day now.
“We’ve played consistent cricket and our bases are covered. We’ll have to pitch up on the day and put on a show.
“We’ve been playing great cricket the last couple of weeks and there was a good feeling in the dressing room.
“We got off to a pretty quick start and for the bowlers to respond the way they did and really change the pace of the game and attack the wickets, for me that’s what set up the win.”
He added: “Leicestershire have had a great tournament, especially the top four and have done some damage with the bat so it was great to get amongst the wickets and we gained momentum.
“Special mention to Craig (Meschede). He bowled an incredible spell there which turned the game on its head.
“I really enjoy batting with Jacques, he’s a really positive influence on me and batting together again was great.
“It was nice to play freely. Over the last few weeks, I haven’t got as many as I would have liked so it was nice to have a let-off early on and get on with it.”
Before thoughts turn to Edgbaston a week on Saturday, Glamorgan return to red-ball Championship cricket on Monday when they take on Sussex in their annual visit to Colwyn Bay.