All-round Thomas seals thrilling Somerset win

"I can't believe I have done that," said an ecstatic Alfonso Thomas, who hit two boundaries in the last three deliveries of a thriller to steal and seal victory for Somerset. In a rollercoaster of a match, Somerset just about managed to hold their nerves courtesy a 50-run partnership for the eighth wicket between Thomas and James Hildreth to get past the line off the last ball of the match. The equation came down to five runs from three balls with one wicket left when Thomas sliced a full toss from Scott Styris - who had taken two wickets in the final over - to the deep point boundary before bringing up the win with another carve over point.

Somerset were reeling at 99 for 7 at one stage, but Thomas and Hildreth revived their prospects with a match-winning stand. They ensured the big hits came at the right time, picked the singles and twos with frequency and timed the chase to perfection to keep their team in the hunt.

Thomas was also impressive with the ball, hitting the right lengths and ensuring he kept the scoring in check at one end while VVS Laxman and Adam Gilchrist, the Deccan openers, were in a ruthless mood in the first few overs. Thomas got rid of Gilchrist after he had smacked an eight-ball 18 and then returned to dismiss Styris when Deccan were looking to step it up. His all-round effort meant a defeat for the third IPL team in the competition in its first game.