Yorkshire beat Glamorgan in Neath by two wickets in a low-scoring contest to earn their first Metro bank One Day Cup win of the 2026 campaign, as the hosts suffered their first defeat of the 50-over competition. The visitors reached the 187 required in 48.4 overs, with Finlay Bean finishing 43 not out after a tense chase.
After winning the toss at the Gnoll and choosing to bat, Glamorgan never got to grips with disciplined and probing bowling from Yorkshire and were always under pressure, with the top order skittled out cheaply. Ben Cliff was the main antagonist for the visitors with 4-29, while Eddie Byrom was the only Glamorgan batter offering any resistance with a workmanlike 68.
How did Glamorgan’s innings unfold?
Encouraged by their opening round victory on Wednesday, Glamorgan aimed for a repeat performance with the bat against the Yorkshiremen, but by and large were always under pressure against a strong and experienced bowling unit. Callum Nicholls, Will Smale and Henry Hurle departed in the first 10 overs as Cliff and Hill struck.
Rising talent Jack Hope-Bell was called on to steady the situation early on with Eddie Byrom, but there would be no heroics similar to his maiden class A 100 against Sussex this time as he was trapped lbw by Jack White for nine.
Despite little first-team cricket this season, Byrom formed a 47-run partnership alongside Dan Douthwaite to provide some brief respite for the hosts. But the resistance did not last long as Douthwaite was bowled for 19 and Byrom fell for a spirited 68.
Timm van der Gugten and Alex Horton held out briefly for another 47-run partnership, but Yorkshire were always in the ascendancy with Cliff the pick of the bowlers with 4-29 and Indian international Kuldeep Yadav also proving a valuable acquisition for the county, picking up a couple of wickets on debut as Glamorgan limped to a disappointing 186-47.
Why was Yorkshire’s chase so tense?
Yorkshire made heavy weather of reaching the modest total, although openers Adam Lyth and Will Luxton got them off to a solid start. After the ever-dependable Van der Gugten took the wickets of both openers, Yorkshire captain Dom Bess and Finlay Bean seemed to have steered the visitors to safety with a crucial partnership of 44.
But when Bess was caught by Mcllroy off the bowling of Glamorgan captain Andy Gorvin, it came down to a nervy finish as Yorkshire did just enough courtesy of Finlay Bean, who was 43 not out, to get them to the tally needed with eight balls to spare.
What happens next for both sides?
Glamorgan will now be hoping to bounce back on Sunday when they head to Radlett to face Middlesex, while Yorkshire face Sussex at Hove.
Glamorgan 186 (47 overs): Eddie Byrom 68; Ben Cliff 4-29
Yorkshire 190-8 (48.4 overs): Finlay Bean 43 not out; Mcllroy 2-23, Gorvin 2-45, Van der Gugten 2-37
Ben Cliff was part of the Yorkshire side that reached the 2025 semi-final.
Key Facts
- Yorkshire beat Glamorgan by two wickets in Neath.
- It was Yorkshire’s first Metro Bank One Day Cup win of the 2026 campaign.
- Glamorgan suffered their first defeat of the 50-over competition.
- Ben Cliff took 4-29, while Eddie Byrom top-scored for Glamorgan with 68.
- Yorkshire reached 190-8 in 48.4 overs, with Finlay Bean unbeaten on 43.
