Tom Banton fires as Somerset gun down target of 181

Somerset got off to a winning start at Sophia Gardens as they defeated an inexperienced Glamorgan team featuring three T20 debutants by wickets, with two overs to spare.

Despite an excellent start, Glamorgan should have scored in excess of 200, but instead of consolidating they lost three wickets in three overs and were grateful that Colin Ingram enabled them to reach a challenging total.

Needing 181 to win at nine runs an over, Somerset emulated Glamorgan with Tom Banton scoring 22 from Marchant De Lange's opening over and 50 coming from only four overs. On a perfect batting pitch, runs continued to be plundered with Somerset 75 for 0 after six overs, four runs more than Glamorgan.

Banton soon reached fifty with a high proportion of boundaries - five sixes and four fours - as Somerset raced to 100 in the 9th over and well in control. They did lose Pakistan batsman Babar Azam to Dan Douthwaite, and in the following over Banton's excellent innings of 64 ended when Billy Root held on to a fine catch at deep midwicket.

The experience of James Hildreth and Peter Trego saw Somerset reach their target with ease, while Glamorgan will reflect on their failure to capitalise on a good start, while their bowlers need to improve their accuracy.

Earlier, Glamorgan who were put in, made 180 for 5 after a rapid start, reaching 50 in the fourth over and 70 at the end of the six-over Powerplay. Jeremy Lawlor, making his debut in the competition, set the tone by striking early boundaries and lifting Jamie Overton over long-on for six.

Somerset used five bowlers in the first five overs, but apart from Roelof van der Merwe, no one was able to stem the stem of runs. The opening partnership of 82 was broken in the ninth over when Lawlor, who scored 43 from 30 balls, was caught on the long-off boundary off van der Merwe.

After reaching 95 for 1 at the halfway stage, Glamorgan fell away in mid-innings, and had Ingram not blasted a 28-ball half-century, their score would have been well below par.

David Lloyd, was the next to go after scoring 57 from 37 balls when he was deceived by Craig Overton's slower ball, giving short square leg a simple catch. Two wickets then fell for three runs as Chris Cooke became van der Merwe's second victim and Douthwaite fell for 2.

With one over remaining, Glamorgan were 153 for 5 but Ingram, relatively quiet until then, suddenly exploded by hitting Craig Overton for three sixes and two fours, with 27 coming from the over.