By Alun Rhys Chivers
A valiant List A career-best and maiden half-century by Cardiff batsman Kiran Carlson (63) was not enough to rescue Glamorgan as they slumped to an embarrassing 170-run defeat at the hands of Somerset in the Royal London One Day Cup at Cardiff.
Former Glamorgan captain Jim Allenby came back to haunt the Welsh county as he amassed a career-best 144 not out for the visitors, his maiden century for the Westcountrymen.
Having lost Steven Davies for just four in the third over, Somerset were under pressure early on in the innings, also losing big hitter Peter Trego for an uncharacteristic 15 in the 10th over.
But the loss of the second wicket brought Allenby and Dean Elgar (96) together for what was eventually a third wicket partnership of 187. Having hit five fours and two sixes, South African Elgar fell four runs short of his century, caught behind by Chris Cooke off Australian-born Dutchman Timm van der Gugten.
Somerset’s assault continued with Allenby and James Hildreth (58 not out), who saw the visitors through to 338-3 with a partnership of 109 in just 7.2 overs at the death.
Allenby’s innings from 146 balls included 11 fours and six sixes.
South African Marchant de Lange recorded one of the worst bowling returns in Glamorgan’s List A history, conceding 93 runs in his 10 overs.
Glamorgan’s unlikely pursuit began with the premature loss of captain Jacques Rudolph, swiping outside off-stump to Craig Overton and into the gloves of Steven Davies for two, Glamorgan slumping to 5-1.
Glamorgan were 19-2 inside eight overs, Josh Davey trapping David Lloyd leg before wicket for seven. That soon became 27-3 in the twelfth over, Colin Ingram driving off his legs to Craig Overton at mid-on off Josh Davey for two.
A 55 partnership between Will Bragg and Kiran Carlson was brought to an abrupt end when the former was stumped off a leg-side wide by Steven Davies off Allenby’s bowling for 32, the home side struggling at 82-4.
Aneurin Donald was the fifth batsman out, bowled by Paul van Meekeren for 10, the home side in serious trouble at 95-5 in just the 23rd over. Kiran Carlson soon moved past fifty off 47 balls before the halfway mark, as he doggedly tried to reverse his side’s slump. But he was undone for 63, a List A career best score, bowled by Tim Groenewald, as Glamorgan fell further into despair at 137-6 in the 30th over.
Two runs were added to the total before Chris Cooke (21) was bowled by Roelof van der Merwe, Glamorgan reduced to 139-7. Marchant de Lange was undone by a slower ball by Groenewald, caught at mid-off by substitute fielder Johann Myburgh, the match all but over at 152-8 in the 34th over. A ninth wicket followed in the next over, Craig Meschede caught by Adam Hose off van der Merwe for nine.
The visitors wrapped up victory as Timm van der Gugten was caught by Craig Overton on the mid-wicket boundary off van der Merwe for 11.