Hildreth hundred sneaks victory

Somerset 182 for 6 (Hildreth 106*) beat Glamorgan 178 for 5 (Marsh 85) by 4 wickets
Scorecard

James Hildreth hit a magnificent 53-ball century to guide Somerset to a thrilling four-wicket victory over Glamorgan in an absorbing Friends Life t20 match at Taunton.

Somerset won with one ball to spare, Hildreth finishing unbeaten on 107.

Shaun Marsh had given Glamorgan hope with a sparkling 85 off 52 balls as they posted 178 for 5 after winning the toss.

Somerset then plunged to 24 for 3 in reply before Hildreth smashed 15 fours and a six to turn the match, five of his boundaries coming in a single over from James Harris.

Even then it took a six in the final over from Lewis Gregory, inches over Marsh on the long-off boundary, to settle the outcome. Had Marsh not been a few yards in from the fence he might well have taken the catch.

It was almost a one-man batting show for Somerset as Hildreth made liberal use of the sweep and reverse sweep. The next top scorer was Jos Buttler with 22 as Somerset maintained their unbeaten record in the Midlands/West/Wales Division.

Marsh took his time to size up the home attack, scoring only seven from the first 14 balls he faced, but from then on he showed majestic form, blasting nine fours and four sixes to lead his side to a challenging total.

The watchful start meant Glamorgan had only 31 on the board after the first six power play overs and 56 by the end of the 10th.

Jim Allenby survived a stumping chance to Steve Snell off Max Waller on 12 and went on to support Marsh with a fluent 33 before being well caught by Peter Trego over his shoulder at mid-wicket off the left-arm spin of Arul Suppiah.

After Allenby departed Martin Van Jaarsveld took up the attack, scoring his runs off 22 balls, with four fours and a six. He was eventually caught at long-off to give Kirby a well-deserved wicket.

Somerset were without five first choice players - Richard Levi, Albie Morkel, Kevin O'Brien, George Dockrell and Craig Kieswetter - because of international duty. All bar Kieswetter will be back for their next t20 game away to Northamptonshire on Tuesday.