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Somerset's 'kick up the backside'
SOMERSET captain Justin Langer admitted their first defeat of the season on Sunday may have been the "kick in the backside" the Cidermen needed.
Having recorded an impressive Friends Provident Trophy victory over Hampshire Hawks at the Rose Bowl on Friday, thanks to a fine unbeaten century from James Hildreth, Somerset suffered their first loss at the hands of Glamorgan Dragons at the County Ground.
"We lost on Sunday, however we have had two really good games and had a good half a game at Worcester," revealed Langer.
"We are playing good cricket but maybe this is the kick in the backside we needed."
Glamorgan were put into bat in overcast conditions and restricted to 221-7 in 50 overs thanks to some tidy bowling by the Somerset attack.
The Glamorgan total depended heavily on 95 from captain David Hemp, who shared in a
second-wicket partnership of 91 with Michael Powell (32).
For the Sabres, Charl Willoughby ended with miserly figures of 1-27 from ten overs while new boy Alfonso Thomas took 2-43.
Somerset openers Marcus Trescothick and Craig Kieswetter found runs hard to come by and with the total on 30 Tresco was bowled for 15.
Zander De Bruyn was run out following a mix-up and with the score on 39, Kieswetter was caught at extra cover for 18.
When Hildreth leg before wicket, the Sabres had slipped to 45-4.
Ian Blackwell hit two sixes and put on 28 with Langer, but with the total on 73 the captain was out for seven.
Blackwell and Durston took Somerset on to 98 but after scoring 42 Blackwell was leg before wicket to Dean Cosker. The same bowler accounted for Durston for 15.
Thomas joined Trego and added 39 for the eighth wicket before the debutant was out for 16.
Trego hit 30 before he was caught at deep extra cover off Wharf.
Steffan Jones hit three sixes to raise the crowd's hopes but after bringing up the 200 and moving onto 42 he was caught at long on as Somerset were all out for 202 in 46.5 overs.
Not only was it Somerset's first defeat of the season, it was the first time they had lost to Glamorgan in this competition since their first ever game way back in 1963.
Langer said Somrset could take a number of positives out of the game.
"The arrival of Alfonso Thomas was really promising, particularly looking forward to our one-day cricket," he said.
"Charl Willoughby and Steffan Jones had a great game with the ball again and Blackie is playing really good cricket at the moment.
"Overall it was our batting that let us down and that is where we lost it, as we did a few times last year in the first 15 overs with the bat, and this is something we have to look at.
"The later order rallied well but they are not paid to win the game for us - it is the batters who should be doing this.
"Something about this team is that we bat really deep and that is a really secure feeling to have as a captain, but we lost too many wickets early on."
In the day/night match on Friday, the Hawks were put into bat first and posted 286-4, which included 62 from Kevin Pietersen, before he was bowled by Zander de Bruyn who was making his debut in place of Justin Langer who was suffering from a migraine.
In the Sabres reply De Bruyn and Hildreth put on 159, a new record third-wicket partnership for Somerset against Hampshire in this competition, before the latter was out for 79.
Hildreth remained to see Somerset to 288-5, by which time he had moved onto 112 not out, which came off 90 balls and included 12 fours and two sixes.
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