Benny shines on rain marred day
19 July 2019
Benny Howell made career best bowling figures on a day marred by the unforgiving rain that led to the opening T20 match against Glamorgan being abandoned.
Gloucestershire managed to pick up eight wickets before play was called off at Cheltenham College after 15.3 overs with Glamorgan 96/8.
David Lloyd batted with purpose to begin the match, finding the boundary twice in the first two overs. The third over brought about Gloucestershire’s opening wicket of the T20 campaign courtesy of David Payne, Andrew Tye catching Lawlor at mid on for naught.
Glamorgan’s danger man Colin Ingram entered the fray at number three and added 26 runs with David Lloyd before a quick flurry of wickets from Tye and Howell meant Glamorgan would resume after the rain delay with two batsmen yet to make a run.
Play resumed after approximately 40 minutes with Benny Howell bowling to Billy Root. It didn’t take long for Gloucestershire to mount more pressure on Glamorgan’s batting contingent as Michael Klinger ran out the Welsh side’s captain without a run.
At 50/4 after eight overs, Glamorgan needed to see Root and Cooke stay in the middle to at least control the damage being done by the home side’s bowling attack. Cooke seemed to be the man who was going to do just that, finding the boundary twice.
The man of the moment Benny Howell ensured that was not going to be the case, bowling Cooke for 16. Howell then picked up his third wicket in three overs, trapping Root lbw for 9.
His onslaught was completed in his fifth and final over as he struck twice to remove Dan Douthwaite and Graham Wagg, both caught on leg-side drive by Jack Taylor – one a stunning diving catch. He finished the day with career best numbers of five for 18 but another downpour brought proceedings to a halt and the match was abandoned shortly before 5pm.
WHAT A DAY FOR @bennytweets_ 👏
— Gloucestershire Cricket🏏 (@Gloscricket) July 19, 2019
Career best figures of 5⃣-18
An incredible bowling display and a fantastic start to the @VitalityBlast campaign!!💥#GoGlos💛🖤 pic.twitter.com/siXSTXI4nu
Gloucestershire will be disappointed to go home with a single point considering the position they were in. Glamorgan on the other hand will likely be relieved to have salvaged a point. Gloucestershire return to T20 action next Thursday at Cheltenham when they take on Middlesex in front of another sold-out crowd.
