Glamorgan

Hope-Bell, Edwards and Wallace made first team debuts, as did batter Callum Nicholls, 22, and Australian paceman Connor O’Riordan, whose bid to develop in Wales after missing out in New South Wales echoes the example of county stalwart Timm van der Gugten.

Wicket-keeper Alex Horton, 22, was the top run scorer.

Nicholls and Hope-Bell played major roles in the dramatic closing win over Worcestershire, with Pontarddulais product Edwards marking his potential by taking three wickets after being thrust into the squad because of injuries.

“Of the younger lads, Jack Hope-Bell has been impressive throughout the tournament and showed again [against Worcestershire] he’s got a future here,” said Harrison.

“Callum Nicholls has had a couple of scores and to get 70 in a chase was really good. There’s a lot of experience for some of the younger players and it’s shown we’ve got a bright future ahead.”

Glamorgan are far from unique in blooding youngsters in the One Day Cup while some of their star names are away at the Hundred franchise tournament, but the perennial ambition to have a Welsh core to the team looks closer to fulfilment than has been the case since the noughties.

As well as those used, 18-year-old seam bowler Tom Norton – a breakout star of recent Championship games – missed the competition because of a back problem which will probably keep him out for the season, while batter Jacob Blades recently played for England under-19s at the age of 17.

“You’ve always got to plan for the future and this competition gave us that opportunity to develop a few of our players, playing against Ben Stokes for Durham is a great experience when they’ve watched him on TV playing for England.”

Captain Andy Gorvin, the oldest player at 29 for several matches, was compared to a school-teacher in charge of the youngsters by one opposition commentator.

“My family did tell me about that! I try to help in whatever way I can and when it doesn’t go right, it’s how to keep the guys going,” said Gorvin.

“The most important thing about sport is having the resilience to come back the next day. They’ve always tried to improve, it’s a three-week block with eight games so you improve on the job and I’ve tried to guide as well as I can, and I’ve got to improve as well.”

The team changes suggested the home side would be favourites, but not the scale of the one-sided encounter that followed.

Middlesex recalled Roland-Jones for Jack Nelson, while Glamorgan gave debuts to two seamers – 18 year old academy product Tom Edwards and Aussie Connor O’Riordan, who has been on an extended second team trial.

Both teams have five players at the Hundred, but Glamorgan also chose to rest the overworked Timm van der Gugten as well as veterans Colin Ingram and Chris Cooke, with Zain ul Hassan on paternity leave, teenage prodigy Tom Norton missing at least most of the competition with a back issue, Jamie McIlroy suffering a minor niggle, and Billy Root not selected.

Sharma was quickly into his stride having Callum Nicholls adjudged lbw, but with Byrom getting the ball away for six fours, Glamorgan got to 44 before they fell apart, losing wickets in six consecutive overs.

Sharma had Henry Hurle (10) caught by keeper Joe Cracknell, Jack Hope-Bell caught to mid-off and Will Smale given lbw.

Meanwhile Roland-Jones induced Byrom (29) and Dan Douthwaite to edge to slip, Sam Robson snaffling two smart grabs, while Alex Horton feathered a catch behind.

Roland-Jones bowled his 10 over allocation straight through, while Sharma was replaced after seven by Cornwell, who wrapped up the last three while Cracknell finished with four catches.

The difficult bounce did not excuse the extent of Glamorgan’s struggles against an accurate seam attack.

With 20 coming off a nervous first over from O’Riordan, Josh de Caires got Middlesex off to a flyer.

Captain Andy Gorvin took himself off after just two overs just to give Edwards a bowl, but the 50 came up in just six overs as De Caires and Nathan Fernandes were able to attack with freedom.

Fernandes (14) drove Edwards to mid-on to give the youngster a first senior wicket, and a second quickly followed when Sam Robson was caught behind.

But De Caires (45 not out off 30) hit the winning run off the first ball of the 10th over to complete the rout.

Middlesex next travel to Worcester on Friday 31 July.

Glamorgan are set to come up against former England captain Ben Stokes at Durham on Wednesday, with further away fixtures against Derbyshire and Hampshire to follow as they try to rebuild confidence.

If Tribe does realise his ambition and become the first Glamorgan player since Simon Jones in 2005 to play for England, it will have come off the back of a willingness to pack his bags and head for wherever there were opportunities to play and improve.

He had never played a game outside of Jersey until he left the island to study in Cardiff when he was 18, but joined Glamorgan on a rookie contract in 2023 before signing an improved deal last year.

Since then, his travels have taken Tribe to the National Cricket League in Texas, a stint in Adelaide playing Grade cricket, then onto a Nepalese T20 competition, before he was picked up by Paarl Royals to play in the South African T20 tournament last winter – as well as getting a deal to play grade cricket in Australia.

His stint with Paarl Royals in particular is bearing fruit, with Tribe having been able to tweak his technique ahead of this tour in South Africa.

“I have made a couple of technical changes and they have served me well here,” he said.

“I am now more side on and added a little trigger in there and made sure I have added a few other shots.

“So if the lads are missing slightly short on the off-side I can still punch that, and I’m trying to narrow the margin for error on the bowler’s side.

“My movement is a bit more precise and accurate as well.

“It has given me the ability to know what their bowlers do with the ball.

“It has definitely helped me against their skilful bowlers and has given me a clue on what they do.

“The reason we have this type of cricket where we play against the second team of other countries is that it is going to be a better standard that what we potentially face in the County Championship.

“In the Championship you talk about slightly slower bowling whereas on this wicket it has had more pace and bounce. It is different challenges.

“I like the idea we get the opportunity to play in these because if you are then exposed to Test cricket then it will be faster.”

Whether Tribe is on the fast track to an England cap remains to be seen, but the already much-travelled young player continues to do all he can to make his dream a reality.