Essex Men v Glamorgan Men
Metro Bank One Day Cup
Ambassador Cruise Line Ground | Chelmsford
Wednesday 20 August 2025 | 2pm start
The One Day Cup resumes at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground on Wednesday as Essex welcome Glamorgan to Chelmsford for a ‘day-night’ thriller.
Round five of the 50-over campaign sees Welsh outfit Glamorgan travel across the border to face in-form Essex, who are looking to make it three wins in a row following victories against Surrey and Leicestershire on Friday and Sunday respectively.
Essex claimed their second straight Metro Bank One-Day Cup win, beating Leicestershire Foxes by 60 runs after setting a total of 321 for eight. After being put in to bat by Foxes’ skipper Peter Handscomb, Matt Critchley’s maiden List A century (103) anchored the innings, with strong support from Luc Benkenstein (75 off 52), Tom Westley (53), and Simon Harmer’s quickfire 41*.
Leicestershire’s bowlers lacked variety without a spinner and conceded 12 wides, though Ian Holland impressed with 3 for 34. In reply, Shan Masood hit 103 but lacked support, Roman Walker’s 44 the next best as the Foxes were dismissed for 261.
Essex’s bowlers, using four spinners, kept pressure on after Jamie Porter’s early double strike reduced the hosts to 16 for 3. Benkenstein added three wickets with his leg spin, while Harmer and Critchley also struck, sealing Essex’s comfortable victory and denting Leicestershire’s qualification hopes.
The visitors, Glamorgan, sit at the bottom of the Group A table, still searching for their first victory in this year’s Metro Bank One Day Cup campaign. Whilst Essex move up to fifth place, hunting for the qualification places.
The Welsh outfit suffered a seven-wicket defeat in the last round against the Notts Outlaws at Sophia Gardens. Eddie Byrom (62 off 72) and Billy Root (56 off 70) top-scored for them, whilst the wickets came from Zain ul Hassan (1-19 off 7 overs), Romano Franco (1-51 off 10) and Asa Tribe (1-17 off 3).
Eddie Byrom is Glamorgan’s leading run-scorer so far, amassing 194 runs from 4 innings at an average of 48.50 with a high score of 94. Their leading wicket-taker is Ned Leonard, with 5 wickets at an average of 35.40 and best bowling figures of 3-54.
Squad
Tom Huggins has named a 12-player squad for Glamorgan’s visit to the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground on Wednesday.
Shane Snater and Noah Thain return following their rest periods.
Curtis Campher misses out due to international selection with Ireland but will return to Essex at the end of the week for the next match against Gloucestershire.
Charlie Bennett has been granted a rest period whilst Nick Browne is ruled out with a groin injury. Nick is still working through his rehab with the aim to rejoin the team soon.
Mackenzie Jones is still sidelined with a hamstring injury. He is still working through his rehabilitation plan. No return date has yet been set.
Dean Elgar is not available to play in the One Day Cup whilst Sam Cook, Paul Walter, Michael Pepper and Jordan Cox are all participating in the Hundred.
ICYMI: Matt Critchley
Last Time We Met: Glamorgan
Glamorgan came out as victors in the last meeting between the two sides in the Metro Bank One Day Cup, defeating Essex by 32-runs at Chelmsford.
2024 Lineups
Essex: Nick Browne, Feroze Khushi, Tom Westley (C), Robin Das, Luc Benkenstein, Noah Thain, Simon Fernandes (WK), Shane Snater, Jamal Richards, Ben Allison, Aaron Beard.
Glamorgan: Eddie Byrom, Will Smale (WK), Sam Northeast, Kiran Carlson (C), Billy Root, Asa Tribe, Tom Bevan, Dan Douthwaite, Andy Gorvin, Jamie McIlroy, Ben Morris.
Essex started well with the ball, Shane Snater (3-46) and Jamal Richards (3-68) leading the attack, while rookie wicketkeeper Simon Fernandes impressed with five catches and two run-outs. Essex had Glamorgan wobbling at times, but Sam Northeast’s 89, supported by Billy Root and Asa Tribe, set up a challenging 283 target.
Chasing, Essex’s top order faltered, losing Feroze Khushi, Nick Browne and Robin Das cheaply to leave them struggling early. Luc Benkenstein (39) and Tom Westley (50) tried to steady the innings, but Ben Morris’s decisive burst tore through the middle order.
Just when defeat seemed inevitable, Ben Allison (26) and Aaron Beard (42*), with a record last-wicket stand of 68, gave Essex faint hope and some pride, dragging them to 251 before falling 32 runs short.
Current Glamorgan squad: Kiran Carlson (C), Henry Hurle, Billy Root, Andy Gorvin, Callum Nicholls, Ben Morris, Ned Leonard, Zain ul Hassan, Will Smale (WK), Asa Tribe, Romano Franco, Dan Douthwaite, Eddie Byrom.
Glamorgan
Captain: Kiran Carlson
2024 finish: Champions
2024 leading run-scorer: Colin Ingram (297)
2024 leading wicket-taker: Andy Gorvin & Dan Douthwaite (19)
Why they can win the competition: As defending champions, the Metro Bank One-Day Cup has felt like a homecoming for Glamorgan, reaping their most success in recent years, winning in 2021 also. David Harrison will lead the team (Richard Dawson away with Welsh Fire) after he was interim head coach and assistant for their previous two success and can lean on a new exciting support staff including Ian Harvey who supported Dawson to success in this competition with Gloucestershire.
Player to watch: Billy Root in a crucial stage in his career could have a more senior, important role to play. The 32-year-old in his final year contracted at Glamorgan has spent most of the season in the 2nd XI, often captaining, however came into his own with 296 runs in this tournament in 2024. With Mason Crane and Ben Kellaway selected in The Hundred, Root could be turned to with ball in hand also.
Young gun: Jersey international Asa Tribe has shown significant signs of improvement from last year where he top scored with just 26 across six matches. A first red-ball century followed by an ever-present status in the Vitality Blast middle-order, Tribe’s influence on the Glamorgan side has come from nowhere. The 21-year-old with an ODI century on his record will look to play a big role at the top of the order this time around.
Final thought: Glamorgan will be missing a key part of their team’s success in this competition of recent years – Colin Ingram. The 40-year-old South African taking up a first assistant coach role is still eligible but is expected to step back from playing for this competition. Despite the lack of a frontline spinner, Andy Gorvin and Dan Douthwaite were joint top wicket takers (with Ed Barnard) in 2024, if they can replicate that success with the step up from younger squad members, there’s no reason why this side can’t go back-to-back.
Group A Table
How Group A is shaping up… *as of Monday 18 August*.
Group A Preview
Click here for a team-by-team preview of each of this year’s Group A contenders.
How To Watch
If you are unable to attend any of the match days, the game will be available to watch via the Essex Cricket Matchzone, through the YouTube livestream.
Daily highlights will be available after each day’s play via the Club website and social media. Live updates will also be provided through the Club’s various social platforms and channels.
Tickets
Tickets are on sale at £18 for adults, with the option to upgrade to a Member Area Upgrade for a total price of £25.50.
Junior (U18s) prices are on sale at just £6, with the option to upgrade to a Junior Member Area Upgrade for a total price of £13.50.
Young Adults aged between 19-25 and Students can purchase tickets for £12, with the option to upgrade to Member Areas for a total price of £19.50.
The Ambassador Cruise Line Ground is located in Chelmsford on New Writtle Street, CM2 0PG.
To secure your seats for Wednesday, visit the link below:
Men’s Metro Bank One Day Cup Returns This August!
Essex Cricket is set for an exciting summer as the Metro Bank One Day Cup returns this August, bringing four home fixtures at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground. All home games will be played during the school holidays at Chelmsford, with discounted tickets available when purchased in advance.
Tickets are still available via our Ticket Site, so visit now to to take advantage of your discount and support the Eagles this summer in the 50-over competition.
