Royal London One-Day Cup

Somerset 372-7 beat to Glamorgan 289 by 83 runs

JAMES Hildreth made his career-best List A score to help Somerset to an 83-run win over Glamorgan in the Royal London One-Day Cup.

Hildreth’s was dropped on 63 and made Glamorgan pay, striking a superb 159 in Somerset’s 372-7, which also included valuable contributions from Peter Trego (56), Tom Abell (40) and Craig Overton (23*).

AS IT HAPPENED: Somerset defeat Glamorgan to extend winning start

The wickets were shared around in reply, while Max Waller took four catches, as Glamorgan never truly threatened a successful chase despite a good knock by Colin Ingram (85).

Having lost the toss and been put in to bat, Somerset started steadily in the face of some accurate bowling from the visitors, particularly Lukas Carey from the River End.

Johann Myburgh and Steve Davies added 46 for the first wicket before both fell to Carey in quick succession, Myburgh edging behind on 18 and Davies looping a simple catch for David Lloyd at mid-wicket.

That brought together Somerset stalwarts Peter Trego and James Hildreth and together they steadied the ship, rotating the strike effectively while still punishing the bad ball as they added 98 for the third wicket.

Trego reached his half-century in 54 balls, with seven fours, but was caught by Lloyd shortly afterwards as he attempted a pull against Graham Wagg to leave Somerset 147-3.

Tom Banton came in at number five for his first List A innings for Somerset and there was no lack of confidence, the batsman’s first boundary arriving thanks to an audacious reverse sweep against the spin of Andrew Salter.

Soon afterwards the same shot proved to be his downfall, however, as he picked out Salter at short third-man from the bowling of Colin Ingram and departed for 11.

Hildreth continued untroubled and was joined by Tom Abell, who found the middle of the bat from the outset and hit some crunching drives.

The pair’s running between the wickets was also outstanding, with numerous twos collected from shots that would ordinarily be singles, though Hildreth survived a huge let-off on 63.

A pull from a short Ingram ball went straight to Jack Murphy on the deep mid-wicket boundary but, not only did he drop the most routine of chances, he also spilt it over the ropes to hand Hildreth six more – he soon went past 5,000 career List A runs.

Abell edged behind for a brisk 40, which came from just 25 balls, but just two balls later Hildreth had completed his seventh List A century at exactly a run a ball – then he put his foot down.

Hildreth dominated the bowling with five huge sixes, including a sweetly struck straight drive which flew over the Marcus Trescothick Stand and into the River Tone and a flick over mid-wicket which reached the back row of the Somerset Stand.

The 33-year-old passed his career best 151, which came against Scotland in Taunton in 2009, with a lovely drive through mid-on, with Roelof van der Merwe in an unfamiliar support role.

The Dutchman fell for 15, wicketkeeper Cooke holding on a skier after van der Merwe’s scoop shot went straight up in the air from the bowling of de Lange, and Hildreth’s fun was ended on 159 as he was clean bowled by the same bowler attempting a scoop of his own.

There was still time for Craig Overton to provide late fireworks, striking two huge straight sixes on his way to 23 from just 10 balls to push Somerset to 372-7.

Carey was the pick of the Glamorgan attack, taking 2-57 from his 10 overs, while Wagg contributed 2-62.

Somerset started well with the ball, as Josh Davey – in for Lewis Gregory – and Craig Overton offered little for the Glamorgan openers to hit out at.

Davey struck first, wrapping Nick Selman (17) on the pads as the opening wicket fell on 26, and a piece of individual brilliance brought about the next wicket as Craig Overton picked up the ball in his follow through and, diving forwards, pulled off a direct hit to run out Jake Murphy (10).

Colin Ingram joined Shaun Marsh and, for a time, the pair put any thoughts of a routine win on hold as they played their shots and added 63 for the third wicket.

Tim Groenewald made the vital breakthrough with the score on 100, though much of the credit must go to Waller as he sprinted in from long-off to take a fine low catch.

Ingram brought up his half-century from 41 balls and David Lloyd was striking the ball sweetly at the other end until he was clean bowled for 35 by a quicker delivery from Roelof van der Merwe.

Needing 214 from 20 overs, Glamorgan were not completely out the game until key man Ingram picked out Craig Overton on the long-off boundary to hand Groenewald his second wicket.

From that moment on victory was assured, despite some huge sixes from both Marchant de Lange (40) and Graham Wagg (25), with de Lange the last man out as he holed out to substitute fielder Jamie Overton on the deep extra cover boundary from the bowling of van der Merwe, who ended with 2-64 from his 10 overs.

Peter Trego took 2-53 from eight and Groenewald ended with 2-54 from seven, while there were also wickets for Craig Overton (1-41 from eight) and Josh Davey, who bowled 10 on the bounce having opened up from the River End and finished with 1-47.

It was a fine team performance with bat and ball but also notably in the field, where Somerset were far superior to their opponents.

While Glamorgan were lax - not only did they drop Hildreth, they also let numerous regulation stops run through their legs to the boundary - Somerset were alert, with every chance taken and bodies on the line where necessary.

Somerset now have two wins from two ahead of Tuesday's visit of Sussex (11am).

Speaking afterwards, James Hildreth said: "I'm in a purple patch at the moment and long may it continue.

"I was halfway off [when dropped], I couldn't quite believe it. It was quite an easy chance but you have to make the most of your luck when those things happen.

"Peter Trego batted nicely - he's a very good player and it's great to be back on the field with him. I really enjoy batting with him and we feed off each other."

Hildreth didn't field due to a slight groin strain, but said he would be fine for Tuesday's match.