Graham Wagg Says Glamorgan Spirit Has Turned Their Season Around

Graham Wagg believes Glamorgan’s team spirit has transformed their season after they won their fourth successive Vitality Blast match on Tuesday night.

The experienced all-rounder hit 53 off 28 balls – alongside Colin Ingram who struck 89 off 47 – as Glamorgan beat Essex by six runs at Sophia Gardens.

The victory lifted the Welsh county to third in the southern table and puts them firmly on course for the knockout stages.

They can keep the momentum going when they next play at home to Hampshire on Friday.

Their surge also comes after coach Robert Croft’s side have overcome significant recent injury problems that have denied them of their overseas stars and put the reliance on home-grown talent.

“I think we’ve stuck together well as a team,” said Wagg.

“It’s been a hard season so far but we’re starting to turn it round with four from four, though there’s a long way to go.”

Wagg paid tribute to Ingram who had missed two recent matches through illness, but was the decisive influence against Essex with his aggressive innings.

Wagg added: “He played a fantastic innings. He hasn’t really picked up a bat since his illness and the two knocks he’s played have been unbelievable.

“The atmosphere was bouncing even though it wasn’t a massive crowd (4,028), but it was good fun.”

With 23 needed from the final over, Essex’s Ravi Bopara did his best by striking ten from the first two balls, but Michael Hogan held his nerve for the next four deliveries.

Essex, needed to score at 10 runs an over after Glamorgan had scored a creditable 198 for 7, powered there by Ingram and Wagg.

Bopara (45 not out) failed to make contact with the fifth delivery of the 20th over with his team finishing on 192-6.