On This Day — Glamorgan Crowned Royal London One Day Cup Champions After Beating Durham by 58 Runs in Final

Fans witnessed brilliant performances, tense moments, and plenty of drama before Glamorgan held their nerve to come out on top. In the end, it was Glamorgan who celebrated a famous win, lifting the trophy and creating a proud moment in their cricketing history.

Glamorgan vs Durham: Royal London One-Day Cup Finals

On August 19, 2021, Trent Bridge in Nottingham lit up for the Royal London One-Day Cup final, where Glamorgan took on Durham in a cracking day-night match. Glamorgan batted first, piling on 296/9 in their 50 overs to set Durham a target of 297. Durham gave it a good go but ended up 58 runs short, bowled out for 238 in 45.1 overs. Kiran Carlson’s blazing knock and Andrew Salter’s crafty spin were the big stories for Glamorgan, steering them to the trophy.

Glamorgan’s Innings

Glamorgan kicked things off after winning the toss, opting to bat on a Trent Bridge pitch that looked decent for runs but had a bit of zip early on. Openers Hamish Rutherford and Nick Selman got the innings rolling, facing a tidy Durham attack. Rutherford came out swinging, smacking a few boundaries with sweet cover drives. He was looking good until Chris Rushworth got one to nip away, catching his edge for 26, and Glamorgan were 39/1 after seven overs. It was an early blow, but there was plenty of batting to come.

Nick Selman settled in, playing the steady hand, picking up singles and keeping the scoreboard ticking. Steven Reingold came in, and the two got stuck in, building a partnership that steadied the ship. Selman was happy to nudge the ball around while Reingold took a few chances, lofting shots over the infield. They put on 52 runs before Matty Potts got Selman to chase a wide one, caught at point for 31. Glamorgan were 91/2 after 16 overs, needing someone to step up and take control.

That’s where Kiran Carlson, Glamorgan’s young skipper, took over with a cracking 82 off 59 balls. He played like a man on a mission, cracking drives through the covers and pulling anything short with venom. His footwork was spot on, especially against the spinners, and he smashed a couple of sixes to keep Durham’s bowlers on edge. Carlson teamed up with Reingold, who grafted for 39, and their 84-run stand pushed Glamorgan past 170. Carlson’s fifty came in just 39 balls, showing he meant business. Durham weren’t going to roll over, though. Matty Potts led their fightback, bowling with real heart to grab three wickets.

He got Reingold out, caught at mid-off after a loose shot, and later sent Billy Root packing for 19, nicking a rising ball to the keeper. Potts mixed up his lengths, throwing in slower balls that kept Glamorgan’s batsmen guessing. Chris Rushworth chipped in with a couple of scalps, including Joe Cooke, who was caught for 22 trying to go big. Durham’s fielders were sharp as well, pulling off a run-out to get rid of Chris Cooke for 19, which slowed Glamorgan’s charge. As the innings hit the final stretch, Glamorgan’s lower order had to keep the runs coming.

Tom Cullen played a clever 26, finding gaps and running hard. Lukas Carey smashed a quick 20, including a couple of boundaries, while Michael Hogan, the old pro, added a few runs. Durham’s bowlers tightened the screws in the death overs, with Potts and Rushworth keeping things in check. Another run-out saw Andrew Salter gone for 11, but Glamorgan still reached 296/9. Carlson’s fireworks, backed by solid knocks from Selman, Reingold, and Cullen, gave them a total that looked tough to chase. The innings had a bit of everything: early caution, a big middle-order push, and a scrappy finish. Glamorgan dealt with the early wicket well, built key partnerships, and leaned on Carlson’s brilliance to set a target that put Durham under the pump.

Durham’s Innings

Chasing 297, Durham needed their openers to fire. Graham Clark and Alex Lees started with purpose, looking to make the most of the power play. Clark was the aggressor, cracking drives and cuts to race to 28. Lees played the supporting role, working the ball for ones and twos. They put on 46 runs before Michael Hogan, Glamorgan’s veteran seamer, struck. Hogan got one to jag back, catching Clark’s edge to the keeper. Durham were 49/1 after eight overs, still in the hunt but needing a big stand.

Andrew Salter’s spin changed the game. He came on and bowled with real nous, using the pitch’s grip to trouble Durham’s batsmen. Salter struck twice in quick succession, getting David Bedingham for 17, caught at cover after misreading a flighted ball, and Scott Borthwick, the Durham skipper, for 14, pinned lbw trying to sweep. At 85/3 after 15 overs, Durham were wobbling, with the run rate creeping up past seven an over.

Sean Dickson dug in, playing a gem of an innings to finish unbeaten on 84. He showed real class, driving through the off-side and picking off singles against the spinners. Cameron Bancroft backed him up with a gritty 36, and their 70-run partnership kept Durham’s hopes alive. Bancroft played some tidy shots through point, but a cracking throw from Joe Cooke ran him out, a massive moment that swung things Glamorgan’s way. Durham were 155/4, and the pressure was mounting.

The middle order couldn’t keep up with the climbing run rate. Salter kept things tight, ending with 3/39. He got Liam Trevaskis for 13, stumped after stepping out too far. Lukas Carey chipped in with a couple of wickets, including Matty Potts, who made 11 before edging a slower ball to the keeper. Potts had been Durham’s star bowler, but his batting couldn’t turn the tide. Hogan came back to wrap things up, dismissing Chris Rushworth for 6 and Paul van Meekeren for 5. Durham were all out for 238 in 45.1 overs, 58 runs short.

Dickson’s 84 was a lone bright spot for Durham, his mix of grit and skill keeping them in the fight. But without enough support, they couldn’t get close. Glamorgan’s bowlers, with Hogan’s nous and Salter’s spin, never let up, and their fielding, especially Cooke’s run-out, sealed the deal. Hence, they were the winners of the Royal London One-Day Cup 2021 season.