Glamorgan give Somerset almighty scare but visitors prevail

After collapsing to 21 for 5 in the sixth over, Glamorgan came within three runs of an astonishing victory against Somerset.

In a pulsating finish, Roelof van der Merwe had Lukas Carey caught by Azhar at the second attempt at mid-off. Carey and Tim van der Gugten had added 57 for the final wicket, after David Lloyd and Graham Wagg had struck half centuries mid-innings.

Craig Overton and Josh Davey shared the first five wickets, with both bowlers bowling a full, accurate length. Had it not been for a 99-run partnership between Lloyd and Wagg, complemented by the last pair, Glamorgan would have been further embarrassed.

After top scoring with 68 apiece against Hampshire last Friday, Lloyd and Wagg again showed that with application and careful shot selection, there were no hidden terrors in the pitch, with Lloyd passing fifty from 63 balls. He added a further 24 runs before he was bowled by van der Merwe.

While Wagg was at the crease, Glamorgan remained in contention, but once he was caught at mid- off, it became a tough ask, with 51 runs needed from the last 10 overs, and the last pair at the crease. But the Glamorgan' tailenders had other ideas, and it appeared they had won the game until van der Merwe struck with the first ball of the penultimate over.

Somerset chose to bat after winning the toss, and were restricted to 35 for 2 after the 10-over Powerplay. Marchant de Lange dismissed the openers in his first overs. Azhar Ali attempted to cut a rising delivery and the edge was parried by the wicketkeeper to slip, where Lloyd held on to a one -handed catch. The impressive Tom Banton, who had struck de Lange for six over square leg two balls earlier, then feathered one to Cooke, with Somerset relying on their experienced duo of Peter Trego and James Hildreth to rebuild the innings.

They put on 48 for the third wicket, before Trego received a beauty from Somerset all-rounder Craig Meschede that pitched outside off stump then nipped back to remove the leg bail. Tom Abell also offered some resistance, helping Hildreth to add a further 57 before the introduction of Marnus Labuschagne brought about a mid-innings collapse.

Australian Labuschagne, signed as a batsman, has also impressed with his leg-spin, and captured the next three wickets, as Abell ran past one to be stumped, Lewis Gregory was similarly deceived and Hildreth, who had played a composed innings of 67, was caught attempting to clear long-off.

Somerset's last two wickets then put on 83 with Overton leading the way with an unbeaten 41.