Marnus Labuschagne. (Source – Vitality Blast)
Marnus Labuschagne excelled with both bat and ball as Glamorgan secured a 13-run win over Kent in a rain-affected dead-rubber at Canterbury.
The match was classified as an academic one due to the absence of any realistic opportunity for either team to advance to the competition’s quarter-finals. Persistent torrential rain ultimately truncated the match, making it a 13-over-a-side contest.
Glamorgan compiled a total of 145/6 in their allotted quota, propelled by Labuschagne’s explosive innings of an unbeaten 50* off 26, followed by his economical bowling spell of 1/14 conceded in two overs. The innings featured contributions of 18 each from openers, skipper Kiran Carlson and William Amale, complemented by Colin Ingram’s significant 26 striking at 200.
In the bowling department for Kent, both Marcus O’Riordan and Joey Evison managed to claim one wicket each, albeit at an economy rate of 11 runs per over.
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Regarding the run-chase, the hosts were well-aligned with the target until the conclusion of the fifth over of their innings, trailing Glamorgan by just four runs at that stage, having also lost an equivalent number of wickets (two).
However, the next two going for just the eight didn’t help their cause at all, which also included Labuschagne’s first and only scalp of the game, when he went through the defences of O’Riordan.
A pair of fighting 30s from Kent’s captain and wicketkeeper-batter, Sam Billings, alongside Tom Rogers, ultimately proved insufficient as the hosts fell short by 13 runs of their target.
Mason Crane, who has been quite economical and wicket-taking this season, went for a whopping 35 in his couple. However, an off day from his end didn’t prevent his side from registering the consolation win.