June 12th, 2000 was “Daffodil Day” as Glamorgan’s supporters, from far and wide, descended on the famous ground hoping to see Matthew Maynard`s side lift the Benson and Hedges Cup. According to their patriotic script, this was to be the day when the inspirational Glamorgan leader would take a piece of silverware back to Wales, from the very heart of English cricket.
Sadly, it was not to be, but this classic match saw Maynard become the first ever batsman in cricket history to score a century in both the semi-final and final of a major one day competition. He arrived at the crease with the scoreboard showing 24-2, after Australian all-rounder Ian Harvey had dismissed fellow Aussie, Matthew Elliott and pinch-hitter Robert Croft. Once again, the Glamorgan captain found himself at the crease in a major game with Mike Powell, and the pair repeated their efforts in the semi-final by adding 137 in 31overs.
As before, Maynard gave a disciplined and cultured display of strokeplay that was ultimately to give the Glamorgan captain the solace of the Gold Award. His well-timed strokes and deft placement transformed the scoreboard to 161-2, when Powell was caught and bowled by Jeremy Snape. There were still plenty of overs in hand for the other Glamorgan batsmen to give Maynard further support, but their innings fell away, as Harvey returned to strangle the lower order.
With the score on 225, Matthew Maynard was run out in the final over after a direct hit by Kim Barnett, and as the Glamorgan walked off to a standing ovation, and handshakes from all of the Gloucestershire fielders, Glamorgan`s supporters knew in their heart of hearts the Welsh side were twenty or thirty runs short of a good score.
Maynard then lead his side back onto the Lord`s ground, knowing that if Glamorgan were going to win the Benson and Hedges Cup, he needed to take early wickets. But Tim Hancock and the vastly experienced Kim Barnett feasted on the Glamorgan new ball bowling, and by the time Robert Croft came on in the 14th over, 72 runs were already on the board. The scoring rate slowed, and in trying to force the pace, Barnett played on to Croft. Steve Watkin returned to take the wicket of Rob Cunliffe, and when Owen Parkin clung onto a fierce return catch, Gloucestershire had slipped to 131-3 after 30 overs.
But any slim hopes of a Welsh victory were finally extinguished by a brisk partnership of 95 in 17 overs by Matt Windows and captain Mark Alleyne. It steered Gloucestershire to victory by seven wickets, and their win, achieved with 19 balls in hand, was their third successive victory in a one-day final – a feat unmatched by any other county.