Smeed: We’re full of confidence right now
SOMERSET’S Will Smeed gave another demonstration of his precocious talent with a quite scintillating 94 not out from just 41 balls as Somerset returned to winning ways in the Vitality Blast with a nine-wicket trouncing of Glamorgan at Taunton on Friday night, writes Richard Latham.
The visitors posted 173 for seven after losing the toss, former Somerset player Eddie Byrom topscoring with 37 off 26 balls and allrounder Ben Green claiming career-best figures of five for 29.
In reply, Somerset openers Smeed and Tom Banton (45) put together a superb stand of exactly 100 from 9.2 overs, paving the way for a comprehensive win with 5.5 overs to spare.
Twenty-year-old Smeed blasted eight sixes and six fours in a memorable exhibition. The result left Somerset riding high, with four wins from their opening five group matches, while for Glamorgan it was a third defeat in five games.
Smeed said: “Taunton is a lovely place for batting and, while it was tricky at the start, once I got in it was great. Tom Abell told me to keep my head and set a platform for the innings, which worked out well.
“We bowled very well as a unit and it was great for Ben Green to get his first five-for. Our heads didn’t drop after losing to Sussex because we know we have a really strong group of players.
“When we are at or near our best we can beat anyone, so there is a lot of confidence within the squad. We are not going to win every game, but the more consistently we can play the better.”
David Lloyd and Sam Northeast gave Glamorgan the platform for a decent total after the match start had been delayed half an hour by a wet outfield. No overs were lost and the opening pair were soon enjoying a true batting surface, taking the total to 49 in the final over of the initial powerplay before Lloyd was caught at short thirdman for 31, made off 20 balls.
However, Somerset go on top from there, with Lewis Gregory claiming the key wicket of Marnus Labuschagne, caught third ball off a mistimed pull shot for just one.
Somerset then applied pressure in the middle overs as Green took his five-for. Two came in the penultimate over of the innings courtesy of perfect yorkers.
■ Gloucestershire’s match with Essex on Friday was abandoned without a ball being bowled.