The gap between title challengers and the rest was on display in Taunton. Somerset fielded the same XI that had scraped home against an ever-improving Sussex side, while Glamorgan made two changes from the team that had beaten Gloucestershire. They brought in new signing Peter Hatzoglou, a T20 specialist leg spinner, alongside Billy Root in exchange for Timm van der Gugten and Prem Sisodiya. This left them with just four recognised bowlers and some additional spin options, while Somerset could call upon six experienced bowlers plus Tom Abell. Van der Gugten has played in every game of the season, and it is assumed that he was rested in a match where the odds were stacked heavily against the visitors.
When Lewis Gregory won the toss, the decision was to chase and Glamorgan made a quick start through Eddie Byrom who, unlike on Friday night, stayed long enough to top score with 42 from 28 balls. Kiran Carlson made 31 from 19 balls and at 71/1 off 8.1 overs a platform had been set. However, some tight Somerset bowling, backed up well by the catching of the fielders kept the pressure on the Glamorgan batters and some injudicious shot selection meant that they were all out for a disappointing 153, with three balls remaining. Apart from one lbw decision, the remaining wickets were all caught. Roelof van der Merwe was the pick of the bowlers with 3/24, while Peter Siddle and Gregory took two wickets each, the latter going for just 14 from his three overs.
With a target of just 154 it was really just a matter of when, rather than if Somerset would get home. Glamorgan’s lack of bowling resources were highlighted when Hatzoglou was asked to bowl in the powerplay leaking 23 runs. By the end of the six overs Somerset were 72/1, Will Smeed the only wicket to fall, having made 28 from 14 balls. Tom Banton reached his half century from 26 balls before lobbing Dan Douthwaite to Colin Ingram at mid-off and Tom Lammonby was out two balls later to the same bowler. Ruaidhri Smith picked up a couple of consolation wickets, but Somerset reached the target with 31 balls to spare, six down. Douthwaite with 3/26 from his three overs and Jamie McIlroy with 1/17 from 2.5 overs helped keep the result respectable from a Glamorgan perspective, while the unfortunate Hatzoglou went for 50 from his four overs.
Somerset look strong contenders for finals day, with depth in their batting and bowling and will be favourites when they face Kent in Canterbury on Tuesday. Meanwhile Glamorgan will hope for an improved all round performance when they travel to Merchant Taylors’ School on Wednesday to face Middlesex, who have lost both their opening games.
