GLAMORGAN chief executive Hugh Morris has lauded Newport for ‘stepping up to the mark’ as county cricket returned to the city for the first time since 1990.

The Welsh county hosted Pakistan A in a 50-over encounter at Spytty Park, 26 years after they had endured a washout against Yorkshire at Newport’s old Rodney Parade home.

The tourists, who are preparing for a triangular tournament with their Sri Lankan counterparts and England Lions, eased to a comprehensive 123-run victory.

Conditions were challenging with the start delayed by 15 minutes because of rain but Morris, who was in the Glamorgan side in 1990, hailed the efforts of the hosts.

“It’s great for Glamorgan to play in Newport again,” said the chief executive. “It’s been a long time, so long in fact that I played in the last one!

“It’s been a great occasion and what the club has achieved in 25 years here is fantastic – the facilities are something to really be proud of.

“We play a lot of second team cricket here but for the first team to be here is really special and it was great that it was against a high-profile team in Pakistan A.

“Newport have been fantastic right from the word go. (Club coaches) Dave and Mike Knight are real club stalwarts who I have known many, many years back to my playing days against them and the enthusiasm that they and the rest of the committee have shown has been wonderful.

“It’s great to see how cricket is thriving in this area with girls and boys teams and a facility like Spytty Park will attract people to our sport, which has got to be good.”

The fixture was played in Newport because the Kaiser Chiefs and Simply Red play concerts at Glamorgan’s Swalec Stadium this weekend.

With busy schedule that sees the first team play out west in Swansea and up north in Colwyn Bay, there may be another long wait for Glamorgan to return to the city but Spytty Park made a good impression.

“Newport have absolutely stepped up to the mark,” said Morris. “We are delighted with the organisation leading up to the day, the organisation on the day, the pitch that was produced. They have done a grand job.

“The domestic calendar for first class cricket changes every year and we play less cricket than we used to but it’s great to have been in Newport and we are so pleased with how it went.”