Youngsters earn Glamorgan consolation win over Leicestershire

Asa Tribe's unbeaten 131 from 132 balls led Glamorgan's chase

MetroBank One Day Cup, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff

Leicestershire Foxes 274 (49.4 overs): Hill 81; Norton 3-41, Franco 3-59

Glamorgan 278-3 (45.4 overs): Tribe 131*, Smale 83*

Glamorgan won by 7 wickets

Match scorecard

One Day Cup holders Glamorgan earned a consolation win in the last game of their campaign as Asa Tribe's 131 not out led them to a seven-wicket win over 2023 champions Leicestershire Foxes.

Glamorgan's 18-year-old debutant Tom Norton impressed with 3-41 and three catches in Leicestershire's 274 all out, while fellow teenager Romano Franco claimed the last three wickets.

Lewis Hill's 81 off 88 balls looked set to take the Foxes over 300 but Peter Handscomb being run out for 42 marked the start of a decline.

Tribe, 21, recorded his second successive century in a stand of 172 with Will Smale, who remained unbeaten on 83.

Glamorgan still finish bottom of Group A while Leicestershire ended with two wins and a tie from eight games.

Kiran Carlson won the toss for the first time in seven games and decided to bowl with an unfamiliar attack short on pace, while the Foxes changed three of their seamers.

An action-packed first hour saw Sol Budinger blast 33 off 19 balls, mainly off the medium pace of Andy Gorvin, before carving him to third man where Norton took a fine diving catch.

Rishi Patel fell to the economical Zain Ul Hassan for six and Abergavenny product Norton then claimed the prime wicket of Pakistan captain Shan Masood as his first county scalp, lbw for 18.

But Leicestershire's experienced pair of Hill and Handscomb went on the counter-attack. adding 84 in 13.1 overs before Handscomb was run out by a Henry Hurle direct hit.

Hill was still going strongly and forcing plenty of bowling changes, but Norton had him caught behind after hitting nine fours and a six in a dominant knock.

When Sam Wood (16) was run out by Tribe, the Foxes had to regroup before the final assault.

But Liam Trevaskis fell to Norton and Franco took the last three - fellow North Walian Roman Walker for 17, Chris Wright for 14 and Alex Green for 21 in the last over.

Glamorgan's reply saw Eddie Byrom (23) and Carlson (29 including three sixes) start strongly but fail to kick on as another 18-year-old, Alex Green, took two of the first three wickets.

Green had Will Smale caught off a no-ball and that proved expensive for the Foxes as Smale started in unusually restrained fashion, playing a support role to Tribe.

The Jersey opener, who had batted through 50 overs for his 122 not out at Worcester, reached three figures off 109 balls in another mature display.

Smale finally unveiled his ramp shot and opened up to pass 50 off 64 balls as the home side accelerated, with a dropped chance off Matt Salisbury on 68 probably coming too late to matter.

There was no pressure on the run-rate in the closing stages and Tribe appropriately hit the winning four with 26 balls to spare.

Despite their One Day Cup struggles, both teams have high hopes of promotion in the Championship as Leicestershire and Glamorgan occupy the top two places with three rounds to play in September.

Glamorgan's Tom Norton told BBC Sport Wales:

"It was brilliant, stuff I'd dreamed about for a very long time so it was a very good day, as I only knew I was playing 15 minutes before the toss.

"I was nervous going in to bowl, but once the first one landed I was alright. You just have to enjoy it, and it was pretty special when the umpire's finger went up, a surreal feeling to get him (Shan Masood) out.

"It was one of my aims to get involved in (the first team) this year, I was a bit disappointed not to get a contract at the start of the tournament, so it was good to get one at the end.

"Hopefully I'll get a contract and see where life takes me. I'm going out to Australia to play over there in October and experience life there.

"Mum's been a massive help for me at pretty much every game I've played and Dad driving me round, but all the coaches have helped me over the last few years including Darren Thomas with the under 18s."

Leicestershire coach Alfonso Thomas said:

"We were probably about 20 runs below par and we didn't have anyone kicking on, as young Asa Tribe showed there were enough runs out there.

"A couple of guys got starts but Glamorgan fielded superbly well and kept fighting with the ball, we were just not good enough today.

"I said to the lads to make sure we stay professional, we are still representing Leicestershire County Cricket Club, and the lads did that today, it's about pride.

"It will be nice if both these teams can go up to Division One or whatever it may be. The key for us is going into the last three games in September trying to win all of them and hopefully lift the title."