Match in the balance after dramatic second day
Glamorgan teenager Tom Norton became the youngest ever First Class debutant to take a hat-trick as Somerset were reduced to 32 for six in a thrilling final hour on day two at Sophia Gardens.
The 18-year-old from Abergavenny ended with figures of four for 22 after he removed James Rew, found the edge of Tom Lammonby and trapped Archie Vaughan in front to also become the first debutant in the County Championship to take a hat-trick since 1906 which with it made him Glamorgan’s youngest player to take a hat-trick.
Somerset took earlier control in the day which saw 17 wickets fall – including two in two from Migael Pretorius. Glamorgan having been bowled out for 229 gave the visitors a 125-run lead in their domination of the majority of the day before Norton’s late surge supported by Ryan Hadley into the West Country side’s top order.
Pretorius took three for 50 to damage the Glamorgan first innings with Ben Kellaway and Chris Cooke’s partnership the only one passing a half-century to offer up any resistance.
Resuming day two following three wickets lost in the final four overs on day one, Somerset’s Jake Ball was bowled by Mason Crane before long to end the first innings on 354 after being inserted.
Zain ul Hassan fresh off a maiden century survived three lbw shouts from Lewis Gregory in the first over on a seaming wicket before Asa Tribe flashed his first ball over the slip cordon, only to edge to fourth slip off a rising Jake Ball delivery.
The theme throughout the Glamorgan innings foreshadowed on day one was the difficulty to play the ball on a length but the ability to play freely when overpitched or short of length.
Pretorius’ removals of Carlson and then Colin Ingram put a dent in the Glamorgan order at 59 for four. Sean Dickson missed a full, straight delivery to cause more concern before Cooke and Kellaway offered their first sign of stability. The pair’s partnership of 80 ended with both batters removed in consecutive overs.
Timm van der Gugten was able to steer Glamorgan away from a follow-on, securing the opportunity to have 13 overs at Somerset in their second innings.
Ul Hassan added pressure with three maidens in van der Gugten’s absence taking the new ball before Norton stepped up to senior bowler status – allowing Australian Hadley the opportunity to continue the Welsh county’s momentum with two wickets of his own.
At the end of the day, Somerset Assistant and Bowling Coach, Steve Kirby said: “A lot of credit has to go to our bowling group to bowl them out for 229. It’s a new ball pitch and it does change when it gets a bit older, so I’m glad what’s happened has happened when we’re 150 ahead rather than 150 behind!
“We’ve still got a lot of batting to come and we’ve got to get a partnership to make it a winning score.
“It was an incredible spell of bowling from Norton. I’ve been really impressed with him since the first innings. He probably got the rub of the green there with the first dismissal but from there he bowled really well. There were some poor shots but we’ve got a lot to come and still have a massive opportunity to win this game.”
