Glamorgan's Welsh youngsters hit statement tons to down Sussex

Alex Horton and Jack Hope-Bell celebrate Dan Istitene/Getty Images

Glamorgan 295 for 8 (Hope-Bell 123, Horton 122, Hudson-Prentice 5-62) beat Sussex 283 for 8 (Carson 81, Hudson-Prentice 63, Price 55, Douthwaite 4-54) by 12 runs

Glamorgan's youthful pair of Jack Hope-Bell and Alex Horton produced match-winning centuries in their opening game of the Metro Bank One-Day Cup against Sussex at Neath.

Nineteen-year-old Hope-Bell, on professional debut, and 22-year-old Horton, with a previous best of 44 not out, recovered from 54 for 5 to give Glamorgan a 12-run win with a 240-run record-breaking stand.

Dan Douthwaite followed up with 4 for 54 to negate Jack Carson and Fynn Hudson-Prentice's fighting century partnership in pursuit of Glamorgan's 295 for 8 and the latter's 5 for 62 in an excellent showing of experience.

With 11 playing missing to the Hundred between the two sides, four debuts were handed out including to Ollie Kirtley, son of former England and Sussex bowler James.

It was Hudson-Prentice, the Sharks' most senior bowler, who did the early damage with two wickets leaving the young debutants to wait their turn. Callum Nicholls' sprightly start to his Glamorgan career ended on 13, edging behind after getting off the mark with a cover drive and pulling a four in front of square.

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.

Horton was dropped by Dom Goodman on 63 at long-off and Glamorgan accelerated at the death, adding 106 in the final 10 overs of the innings. Hope-Bell reached a 102-ball hundred, while Horton's took 110 deliveries. Both Welsh batters have previously represented England's Under-19s.

Timm van der Gugten took the momentum from the end of Glamorgan's innings into their bowling display, as Charlie Tear edged to second slip for 6. George Thomas was able to occupy the crease but struggled to score, with Tom Price was much more fluid in his new role at No. 3 for his first List A half-century.

Hudson-Prentice and Carson, coming together at 106 for 5, kept the run chase alive with an important partnership. The pair took young spinner Romano Franco for two sixes each to force Glamorgan into bowling changes, but he returned to remove Hudson-Prentice.

Glamorgan were grateful not to live to regret three dropped catches and once Carson fell in the penultimate over, Andy Gorvin successfully defended 24 bowling the final over in his first game as captain.

Sussex 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st12GW ThomasC Tear
2nd41TJ PriceGW Thomas
3rd8TJ PriceD Ibrahim
4th23JA LeaningTJ Price
5th22FJ Hudson-PrenticeTJ Price
6th111FJ Hudson-PrenticeJJ Carson
7th52JJ CarsonT Munt
8th3DC GoodmanT Munt
9th11T MuntTDA Henry