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Somerset come out on top at Glamorgan
Somerset continued their remarkable form in this year’s Vitality Blast, cruising to a six-wicket win against Glamorgan at Sophia Gardens.
After restricting Glamorgan to 130 for nine courtesy of four for 21 from Riley Meredith, Somerset knocked off a sub-par total to remain top of the South Group and head into the mid-competition break with seven wins from eight while Glamorgan’s symmetrical win-loss record makes them likely to drop outside the all-important top four.
Top order contributions throughout the Somerset innings set up the win comfortably in the run chase for the middle-order to wrap up risk-free. Dan Douthwaite caused troubles taking three for 32 in an attempt to give the hosts a glimmer of hope.
Somerset won the toss and opted to bowl after scoring in excess of 200 three times in their last four games with the anomaly being a chase of 136 with time to spare.
Kiran Carlson and Will Smale got off to an explosive start, bringing memories of their record-breaking win over Somerset in Cardiff last year.
On this occasion the flair was short-lived. Smale took Josh Davey’s first three balls for boundaries including a typical Smale ramp. However, 30 for no loss from 2.1 overs became 42 for 4 from seven with both openers outclassed by Matt Henry.
Ben Kellaway fell for a duck after a T20 best last time out, slapping to Will Smeed at point, the extra pace of Meredith proving too much. Veterans Colin Ingram and Chris Cooke continued to struggle, undone by the ever-consistent Lewis Gregory, both falling victim attempting a glide to deep-third; Ingram chopping on, Cooke gliding only as far the wicket-keeper.
In a familiar story for Glamorgan it came to Asa Tribe and Douthwaite to drag Glamorgan back into a battle from 49 for five.
Tribe found a way to up the rate and keep stability contributing 38 in a 49-run partnership before an attempted ramp found him bowled. Douthwaite with Glamorgan’s hope left on his responsibility picked out the deep-mid-wicket fielder on the first ball of Meredith’s return.
A couple of late boundaries from Imad Wasim and a top-edged six from Timm van der Gugten managed to save embarrassment of a double-figures total for the hosts but at 130, still very much under-par.
Somerset’s pursuit began in familiar style, Tom Banton and Will Smeed watchful in the opening two overs before being proactive and typically brutal taking 41 from the next three. Competition second top run-scorer, Smeed picking up sixes over the leg-side a particular eye-pleaser.
While the chase wasn’t faultless, the visitors found their way with comfort. Tom Abell was bogged down temporarily scoring at just a-run-a-ball for his 10 before Douthwaite dismissed the number four in an impressive over conceding just one run at 88 for two from 10 overs proceeding it.
Tom Kohler-Cadmore looked to blast Douthwaite over extra-cover but was caught on the boundary.
Despite the loss of four wickets and some trickier spells to endure, from Douthwaite and former Somerset seamer, Ned Leonard who returned economical figures, the visitors eased their way to victory professionally in 16.4 overs.
At the end of the match Somerset Head Coach, Jason Kerr said: “They got off to a very good start, to be fair, but once the bowlers found what was in the pitch for them and what they needed to do I thought we executed it brilliantly.
“I think it was probably a 170 pitch. There was a bit of movement with the new ball and as we saw if you slightly missed, the ball went to the boundary.
“Every individual that’s played has contributed so far, collectively as a team we’ve played really well and we’re winning key moments so for the first stage we’ve been exceptional.”
