Little-known Aussie bowler Ryan Hadley helps produce 'miracle' win for County team
Little-known Australian bowler Ryan Hadley has helped Glamorgan to pull off a "miracle" victory over Somerset in the County Championship in Cardiff.
Hadley walked out to the crease as a nightwatchman, with his team was sitting 4-133 and eyeing off a miraculous 283-run target to claim victory.
The 27-year-old, whose personal best first-class score was 15, survived through the innings where he combined with South Africa's Sean Dickson for a 114-run partnership.
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Glamorgan's Ryan Hadley celebrates after reaching 50 runs. Twitter
Hadley was at the crease for five hours and faced 231 deliveries to end on an unbeaten 50, marking the first time in his career that he reached a half-century.
To make his time as nightwatchman all the more sweeter, the Manly product smashed the winning runs for Glamorgan to claim a two-wicket victory.
"I was telling the boys I hadn't been dismissed since coming here, as a joke ... so it was inevitable they're going to get me for the first time," Hadley said.
"But I'm still here - it's a miracle."
"It happened in blocks. I was just hoping to chip away at a few to help the boys.
"I played and missed a few, luckily not good enough to nick it."
Glamorgan's Ryan Hadley appeals in vain for the wicket of Somerset's Tom Lammonby. Getty
Hadley also found success with the ball, taking 3-28 to help dismiss Somerset for 157 in the second innings. His teenage teammate Tom Norton snagged a hat-trick on debut.
Across his 20 first-class appearances to date, the right-arm quick from NSW has taken 55 wickets at an average of 34 and scored a total of 107 runs, which includes his match-winning performance on Tuesday (AEST) with Glamorgan.
The win lifts Glamorgan to the middle of the division one table.
