Colin Ingram Travels Through Time – And Along The M4 – To Bend Perceptions Of Reality

Never mind the new Time Lord, Glamorgan’s Colin Ingram is bossing the space-time continuum of the T20 Blast. Richard Thomas steps inside the vortex to touch the hem of his sweater.

 

After a couple of weeks in the Glamorgan Tardis, travelling back in time to remember a couple of landmark matches, it’s time to tweak the sonic screw driver and return the Police Box to the present by hailing the efforts of the current team.

In particular, it’s time to laud Colin Ingram and one or two of his county colleagues who have been exterminating the opposition bowling, most notably in that incredible run chase against Essex in Chelmsford on Sunday afternoon.

The Glamorgan boys probably wished they had had a Tardis on Saturday night because the vagaries of the NatWest Blast T20 fixture list, meant they had to travel from Cardiff at 10pm at night for a game in Essex the following day.

But the long journey and the disappointment that their match against Somerset was abandoned because of the Welsh weather – with them in a mightily strong position, having launched a batting attack on the Cidermen – did not dampen spirits.

When Essex clouted 219 for four in their 20 overs, Glamorgan fans probably feared the worst. However, on a typical belting pitch and relatively small boundaries, Ingram blasted 114 from only 55 balls in a gem of an innings containing nine sixes and eight fours.

But even when Ingram was run out, having scored his second century in eight days, Craig Meschede struck the final two deliveries for four and six.

Those who witnessed it will struggle to have seen a better run chase and it was a victory that has propelled Glamorgan towards the top of the South Table.

Assessing Ingram’s master blaster performances – he has racked up 10 white ball centuries for Glamorgan in the past three seasons – Glamorgan coach Robert Croft believes the South African, who will return to the county in 2018 and 2019 in a one-day cricket capacity only, is among the best of all time of the county’s limited-overs players.

That is some accolade indeed considering some of the players Glamorgan have recruited over the years.

“No disrespect to any other cricketer in Glamorgan’s history, but he’s up there with the very best,” said Croft.

“I’ve played with some wonderful one-day players and the form he’s in right now, he is up there at the top.”

But there is still plenty of matches still to come for Ingram to continue his eye-catching form.

The T20 matches just keep on coming in the next few days: on Friday, Sussex head to Cardiff, which then hosts a return match against Essex before a trip to Gloucestershire on Tuesday.

But it will be back in the Tardis for this Dai Sport columnist next week, but where will it take us?