Somerset hold-off Glamorgan fightback to win again

The south Wales side fell agonisingly short of a fine win after Rolf Van Der Merwe struck in the penultimate over

Cardiff: Somerset 261-9, Glamorgan 259 - Somerset won by two runs

Scorecard

After collapsing to 21 for 5 in the sixth over, Glamorgan came within three runs of an astonishing victory against Somerset, and in a pulsating finish, Rolf Van Der Merwe had Lukas Carey caught by Azhar Ali 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 in mid-innings.

Craig Overton and Josh Davey shared the first five wickets, with both bowlers bowling a full, accurate length.

On a slow pitch, Overton sacrificed pace for accuracy, as the Glamorgan batsman failed to cope, and had it not been for a 99-run partnership between David Lloyd and Graham Wagg, complmented by the last pair, Glamorgan would have been further embarrassed. 

There is surely a need to reassess the Glamorgan batting order, as Charlie Hemphrey - the Queensland player - and Craig Meschede, have managed just 20 runs in six innings opening the batting while Marius Labuschagne has been equally unimpressive.

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, but after adding a further 24 runs, before he was bowled by Van der Merwe.

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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, who proved very expensive in the opening two games, bowled a much better line, and dismissed the openers in his first overs. Azhar attempted to cut a rising delivery and the edge was parried by the wicketkeeper to slip, where David 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 allrounder 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 Labuschange induced a mid-innings collapse.

The Australian, 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, before Hidreth, who had played a composed innings of 67, was caught attempting  to clear long-off. Somerset then put on 81 for the final wicket, a partnership that eventually won the game. 

At 185 for 8 and 10 overs remaining, Somerset were well below par, but the the last two wickets added an invaluable 83 with Overton leading the way with an undefeated 41 from balls.

Report courtesy of the ECB Reporters Network