Glamorgan secured a hard-fought 12-run victory against Sussex in their Metro Bank One-Day Cup opener at Neath. The match was defined by a record-breaking 240-run partnership between 19-year-old Jack Hope-Bell, who was making his professional debut, and 22-year-old Alex Horton. The pair rescued Glamorgan from a precarious position of 54 for 5 to post a total of 295 for 8.
Hope-Bell reached his century in 102 balls, while Horton took 110 deliveries to reach the same milestone. Both batters are former England Under-19 representatives. Their effort was necessary after Sussex bowler Fynn Hudson-Prentice caused early damage with 5 for 62, which included the wicket of Callum Nicholls for 13. Glamorgan accelerated significantly at the end of their innings, scoring 106 runs in the final 10 overs, aided by a dropped catch when Horton was on 63.
In response, Sussex finished on 283 for 8. Despite a shaky start where Timm van der Gugten dismissed Charlie Tear for 6, Sussex found stability through a century partnership between Jack Carson and Fynn Hudson-Prentice. The duo targeted young spinner Romano Franco, hitting him for four sixes before Franco returned to dismiss Hudson-Prentice. Tom Price also contributed with a fluid 55, his first List A half-century.
Glamorgan survived three dropped catches during the Sussex chase. After Carson fell in the penultimate over, captain Andy Gorvin successfully defended 24 runs in the final over to seal the win. The match featured four debuts, including Ollie Kirtley, the son of former England bowler James Kirtley, as both sides contended with 11 players missing due to The Hundred.
The pitch got better as the innings went on. Once Hope-Bell had reached 30, he showed the rewards that could be reaped by sticking around. He found gaps with back-foot punches and leg-glances through midwicket. Horton spent the first 70 balls of his innings scoring at a sub-50 strike rate.
Alex Horton, player page headshot cutout, 2024
