Somerset host Glamorgan for a Sunday evening contest between two local rivals
Both teams come off wins from Friday night, Somerset chasing down a target of 185 at Hove, while Glamorgan stuttered past 161, away to Gloucestershire.
Somerset’s win was based on 72 off 42 balls from the bat of Tom Kohler-Cadmore and a miserly spell of left arm spin from Roelof van der Merwe, who returned figures of 1/15 from his four overs. In their first game Somerset crushed Hampshire, having bowled them out for just 74, reaching the target in 9.1 overs for the loss of two wickets.
Glamorgan’s win at Bristol was their first game of the competition and their bowlers performed well to restrict the home side to 161-9. The chase was then progressing nicely with Colin Ingram and Kiran Carlson at the crease, before a clatter of wickets left them eight down with 12 runs needed off seven balls. A couple of lusty blows from the lower order saved their blushes, but Somerset will provide much tougher opposition.
With only Sonny Baker missing through injury, Somerset have a very strong squad at their disposal, Peter Siddle and Matt Henry providing the overseas element. Glamorgan meanwhile have lost Marnus Labuschagne and Michael Neser to the Australian touring party, Colin Ingram coming in as a replacement for Labuschagne. They have also just signed leg spinner Peter Hatzoglou for at least three matches, with the uncertainty as to whether Neser will return. The 24-year-old West Australian is a specialist T20 bowler, having played in the Big Bash for the Perth Scorchers and Melbourne Renegades as well as featuring in last year’s Hundred for the Oval Invincibles. He has been playing club cricket in Essex and will come straight into the squad for this game.
Somerset look much the stronger team and start as odds on favourites. Given their early form, they have a good chance of progressing to the knock out stages of the competition.
Key players
Tom Banton has the ability to get the Somerset innings off to a flying start as he showed against Sussex, making 32 from just 15 balls with two fours and three sixes. His 40 in the first game was at a more leisurely pace, off 26 balls and his overall strike rate in domestic T20 cricket is 143.55. His last T20 international was in January 2022 and he will be keen to regain the attention of the selectors.
Colin Ingram made 47 from 33 balls in the run chase at Bristol and has the power to score big, particularly at a ground such as Taunton. He will need to be firing if Glamorgan are to challenge the hard hitting Somerset line up.
Team news:
Only Sonny Baker is sidelined, out with a back injury, so Somerset can select from strength.
Somerset squad: Lewis Gregory (c), Tom Abell, Tom Banton (wk), Shoaib Bashir, Josh Davey, Lewis Goldsworthy, Ben Green, Matt Henry, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Tom Lammonby, Craig Overton, Peter Siddle, Will Smeed, Roelof van der Merwe.
Neser was included in Glamorgan’s squad for the Gloucestershire game, but has not been released by Australia. He is replaced by Hatzoglou who will come into the starting XI for Prem Sisodiya or one of the seamers.
Glamorgan squad (probable): Kiran Carlson (c), Eddie Byrom, Chris Cooke (wk), Dan Douthwaite, Peter Hatzoglou, Colin Ingram, Ben Kellaway, Jamie McIlroy, Sam Northeast, Harry Podmore, Billy Root, Prem Sisodiya, Ruaidhri Smith, Timm van der Gugten
Weather and Conditions
It should be a scorcher down at Taunton with the captain winning the toss likely to field first. Expect plenty of runs.
Date: 28th May 2023
Time: 18:30
Ground: Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton
Odds (SkyBet): Gloucestershire 2/5; Glamorgan 7/4
https://m.skybet.com/cricket/t20-blast/event/31606807
