Sixes Galore as Smeed dominates Glamorgan in nine-wicket win for Somerset; Ben Green five-for
Will Smeed delivered a destructive innings to allow Somerset to make light work of the 173 chase against Glamorgan at Taunton.
It rained sixes, with 24 scored over the two innings. Those sitting in the Somerset Stand became very familiar with his work; on several occasions his impressive leg-side power hitting provided the crowd with catching practice. However, this was not limited to this area of the County Ground. He sent the ball all over as he guided Somerset to their target of 174 with 35 balls remaining. His 94* included 8 sixes, and demonstrated experience beyond his years.
The torrential rain down in the South West caused a 30 minute delay to the start of play. Fortunately, no overs were lost. Tom Abell won the toss for Somerset, and elected to continue their run of bowling first.
Glamorgan got off to a blistering start, with captain David Lloyd dealing the vast majority of the damage as they raced to 32 without loss after three. Craig Overton, released from England’s twelfth man duty for the day to play, brought a level of stability to proceedings; his over going for five. Ben Green was also introduced into the attack, frustrating the Glamorgan openers who were now struggling to find the gaps in the field. Overton returned, and was able to prise out Lloyd’s wicket, with Roelof van der Merwe taking an impressive catch.
Somerset were able to claw their way back into the game with the important wicket of the big-hitting David Lloyd. Labuschagne’s stay as number three was swift, picking out deep square leg after just three balls. Glamorgan proved inconsistent in their first ten overs, reaching 76/2 with Carlson looking to attack whilst Northeast played the anchor role.
Carslon tried to accelerate proceedings, but a top edge gave Green his first wicket, which quickly became two at the end of the eleventh when Northeast guided a delivery straight into the safe hands of Gregory. Both set batters were out, and Glamorgan were in some trouble at 5 down.
Eddie Byrom, making his T20 debut for Glamorgan on his former stomping ground, was joined by Chris Cooke. A partnership was necessary to keep the Welsh side in the game. Somerset were tidy in the 12th and 13th, before the pair started to look to the boundary for runs.
De Lange’s second over went for 18, with Byrom and Cooke just about keeping Glamorgan in the game. Although both were dismissed, they were able to make their desired impact. Ben Green was exceptional with the ball, bowling Byrom and Weighell in consecutive deliveries to earn his maiden professional five-for. Despite this, 59 runs came off the last five overs, with Douthwaite sending the last two balls of the innings for six.
When Banton and Smeed came out to bat, there was a nervous atmosphere throughout Taunton. The first three overs were economical, but the lack of a wicket would prove disastrous for Glamorgan. There was a hint of what to come; Will Smeed with an effortless leg-side flick into the Somerset Stand with just the second ball of the innings.
Once Banton and Smeed got going, there was no stopping them. The crowd became increasingly more relaxed, before Will Smeed’s 50 and the 100 opening partnership led to a party-type atmosphere. Banton was dismissed giving Sisodiya catching practice, but not before his 45 had the desired impact.
Rossouw continued his good form, contributing three sixes of his own. But this was the Will Smeed show. He hit the winning four, with the whole ground erupting in jubilation. Somerset’s fourth win of the season sees them sit second in the South Group, with Glamorgan down in seventh.
After the game, Ben Green was humble in saying “it was great to be part of a team effort.” He was full of praise for Will Smeed, who himself told Deep Extra Cover “it’s a great atmosphere here; I was targeting the smaller boundary by the Somerset Stand, and weirdly the ball kept going there!” Eddie Byrom, top scorer for Glamorgan, was graceful in defeat, telling us it was nice to be back, and he fully expected “the bouncer which greeted him.”
