PHIL Hughes’ third half-century in four Friends Life t20 matches steered Worcest-ershire to a 19-run victory over Glamorgan at New Road last night.
The former Australian Test batsman timed his innings superbly to finish unbeaten on 87, which was his highest score in all 20-over cricket, as Worcestershire posted a competitive 164-5.
Hughes launched four six-es as well as seven fours in his onslaught, which meant the hosts’ total was sufficient despite some power-hitting from Dragons’ Chris Cooke (32 off 14 balls).
Glamorgan were undone by impressive Worcester-shire bowling that saw the visitors limited to just 19 runs off seven mid-innings overs as they ended on 145-6.
Former County paceman Simon Jones claimed a wicket with just his third ball when Moeen Ali tamely carved the ball to Stewart Walters at point.
Vikram Solanki followed in the next over when he picked out Marcus North at cover off James Harris and the hosts were in trouble at 11-2.
The pressure was on overseas batsmen Hughes to recover the situation and the diminutive Aussie did that in fine style to form the bedrock of his side’s total. Hughes and James Cameron (31) put on 75 in 9.4 overs and turned the game in Worc-estershire’s favour.
Gareth Andrew (15) lau-nched Robert Croft for 10 in two balls, before top-edging a quick ball from Jones that wicketkeeper Mark Wallace just about held.
The terribly out-of-form Alexei Kervezee followed next ball when he pushed at a wide one and Wallace took a good diving catch.
Captain Daryl Mitchell replaced him and promptly hit the first three balls he faced for four, while Hughes weighed in too as Worc-estershire added 35 in the last three overs to post a decent total.
In reply, Glamorgan started brightly with 17 off the first two overs, but wickets fell at regular intervals and the Welsh side struggled to develop any momentum to their run-chase.
Moeen’s figues of 2-27 off four should be put into context as his final over went for 20 as Cooke cut loose, but the off-spinner bowled excellently before that.
When Cameron held on at long-on to remove the dangerous Cooke off Dave Lucas in the 16th over, Glamorgan slipped to 109-6 and their victory hopes were effectively finished.
Meanwhile, County chief executive David Leatherdale has confirmed Pakistan internatinal Sohail Tanvir cannot pick up his visa until Monday and will miss tomorrow’s FL t20 trip to Som-erset.
Director of cricket Steve Rhodes and captain Daryl Mitchell will now hold talks as to whether or not to scrap the deal altogether.
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