NatWest T20 Blast - South Group

Glamorgan 183-6 beat Somerset 182-6 by one run

SOMERSET snatched defeat from the jaws of victory as they were beaten by just one run in a thrilling T20 Blast tie against Glamorgan in Taunton to leave their qualification hopes hanging by a thread.

Needing just 21 runs from the final three overs with six wickets in hand thanks to Johann Myburgh's superb 87, Somerset ended up needing six from the last ball, which Peter Trego could only hit for four as the visitors closed out the narrowest of victories.

Jim Allenby won the toss against his former club and chose to bowl first, but early breakthroughs were hard to come by as Aneurin Donald and Nick Selman flew out the traps.

The Glamorgan openers added 87 for the first wicket before Donald (33) lofted Craig Overton to Lewis Gregory on the deep mid-wicket boundary from the final ball of the ninth over.

Selman continued to impress, bringing up his half-century from just 26 balls with eight cleanly struck fours, and he and new man Colin Ingram laid the foundations for a promising total.

Somerset succeeded in slowing the scoring rate by taking pace off the ball in the middle overs, and the hosts picked up their second wicket when Selman was stumped by Steve Davies from the bowling of Max Waller (1-22) for 66.

Chris Cooke followed in the next over, comprehensively bowled by the impressive Paul van Meekeren (1-28), as Glamorgan fell to 128-3.

Ingram and Graham Wagg began to attack, with Ingram making his way to 35 before handing Lewis Gregory his first wicket as he holed out to Dean Elgar, and Jacques Rudolph (7) then followed a glorious straight six by spooning Overton (2-35) to van Meekeren at short third man.

Former Somerset man Craig Meschede (2) was run out backing up in the final over, but some big hitting from Wagg (28*) ensured Glamorgan posted a competitive 183-6.

The home side's reply began badly, with Steve Davies departing for a golden duck after tamely chipping the spin of Andrew Salter to Marchant de Lange at point as Somerset lost their first wicket with just one run on the board.

As so often in this year's competition, Lewis Gregory showed promise in his pinch-hitting role without going on to make a decisive score - he hit two 4s and a six in a rapid 18 before lofting Wagg to de Lange to leave his side 26-2.

Johann Myburgh, meanwhile, was promoted up the order to number three and playing yet another gem of an innings against the white ball as he took the attack to the Glamorgan bowlers.

The 36-year-old added 61 for the third wicket with Dean Elgar before the latter chipped to mid-off to depart for 24, and James Hildreth (9) followed in frustrating fashion as he guided a short Wagg delivery into the hands of Lukas Carey at short third man.

Myburgh reached his half-century from 33 balls as he and Allenby took Somerset to the cusp of victory, but the game was turned on its head in the 18th over by Marchant de Lange.

The seamer ran out Allenby for 21 with a direct hit and followed up with a superb yorker which saw the back of Myburgh for 87.

Suddenly, Somerset had gone from relative comfort to needing 20 from two overs, but it was back in their hands when van der Merwe launched a mighty six into the Somerset Stand to take the runs required to eight from the final over.

De Lange held his nerve, however, as Peter Trego struggled to get bat on ball - his lofted four from the final delivery leaving the hosts one run short on a dramatic afternoon.

Somerset have dropped out of the top four after losing their second home match in as many days, and now look very unlikely to qualify - they will need to win at Hampshire on Friday and hope other results go their way.

It looks set to be a disappointing end to what was a promising T20 campaign, with Somerset's qualification in their own hands before this weekend's twin defeats.

With the future of several white ball specialists on the payroll uncertain, it remains to be seen which of today's squad have now played their last match at Taunton.

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SPEAKING after the match, Johann Myburgh said: "I am very disappointed.

"We were looking good at some stage, and if I'd stayed there I think we would have got over the line.

"Credit to their bowler [De Lange], who bowled a very good yorker and bowled well at the death.

"This is right up there in terms of disappointments I've had, particularly because of where I am in my career as I know there will not be many matches left and I want to win trophies - that's what it's all about.

"We have to pick ourselves up - if there's any chance of us qualifying with a win at Hampshire then we will go hard at them to make that happen."