Tongue's debut five sinks sorry Glamorgan

Worcestershire 403 (Kohler-Cadmore 102, Barnard 59, Hastings 51) and 28 for 2 beat Glamorgan 207 (Lloyd 88) and 223 (Donald 57, Tongue 5-45) by eight wickets
Scorecard

Josh Tongue, a 19-year-old pace bowler who underwent significant back surgery last year, marked his County Championship debut by claiming a maiden five-wicket haul as Worcestershire handed Glamorgan there second heavy defeat in two matches.

Tongue had two wickets to his name overnight and added three more on the third morning to finish with 5 for 45 as Worcestershire eased to an eight-wicket victory shortly before lunch. He removed top-scorer Aneurin Donald for 57 shortly after hitting him on the helmet and the end came swiftly.

"It was not the start to the season we envisaged, but it's where we find ourselves and we have work our way out of this position," Robert Croft, Glamorgan's coach, said. "It was inevitable that confidence got dented after we got hurt badly in the first innings at Northampton and the same thing happened here - cloudy conditions conducive to swing and seam. I am giving you reasons, some will say excuses, but once they batted the sun was out and the ball stopped swinging. But as a group we did not bowl well as we can, and not as well as we aimed to bowl."

Worcestershire appear well organised, possess a strong batting line up and their seam attack this season has been strengthened by John Hastings, their overseas signing from Australia, and Tongue. They may lack a recognised spinner with Moeen Ali - who plays against Northants next week - only available for a couple of games at most due to international commitments, but with enough runs in the board Brett D'Oliveira's leg breaks could be useful.

Glamorgan have a long injury list - no Graham Wagg, Will Bragg and Timm Van Der Gugten - but their batsmen appear to lack confidence and technique, and this is reflected in their totals this season with 223 in this game the highest they've achieved. When their other bowlers return, they will have an useful seam attack, but there is need for a spinner to add variation. They will hope offspinner Andrew Salter can regain the promise he showed two years ago.

They had resumed on 141 for 3 and made a poor start when Colin Ingram, after adding only a single to his overnight score of 41, was caught by wicketkeeper Ben Cox from Joe Leach's bowling.

Chris Cooke soon followed, leg before to Hastings, and though Donald was soon into his stride, twice striking Hastings for four, he lost his partner Kieran Carlson who edged to Cox. After Donald's departure there was little resistance from the tail - Jack Shantry claiming the final two wickets in the space of four balls - and Glamorgan were dismissed for 223, leaving Worcestershire the simple task of scoring 28 to win.

Although they lost their openers - a wicket apiece for Lukas Carey and Michael Hogan - Tom Fell and Joe Clarke saw the visitors stroll to victory ten minutes after the scheduled lunch interval to leave Glamorgan with much to reflect on after the opening two weeks of the season.