Will Owen (6/63) bowled Glamorgan 2nd XI to a 52-run victory on the final morning of their four-day friendly against Somerset 2nd XI at Taunton Vale as the home side were dismissed for 235 chasing a target of 288 to win.
Resuming on 178/5, Owen claimed a trio of early victims in the first half-hour as Glamorgan secured the initiative, with Chris Cooke completing a pair of catches behind the stumps, whilst Adam Dibble was trapped leg before as Somerset nosedived to 203/8 having lost five wickets for 35 runs in the closing passage of play last night and first thing this morning.
The Somerset tail-enders then briefly used the long handle before Owen secured his sixth scalp as another lbw appeal was upheld. Left-armer Alex Jones then ended the contest as Gareth Rees completed a catch with Somerset losing their last wicket after 75 minutes play on the final morning.
Glamorgan had begun day three with an overall lead of 134 runs and eight second innings wicket intact, with Chris Cooke playing a forthright innings of 70 before being trapped leg before by Gemaal Hussain who took 6/88. Cooke received useful support from Tom Lancefield who made 46 before being dismissed by Craig Meschede
Chasing their target of 288, Somerset suffered an early blow as with just a single on the scoreboard, Huw Waters made the initial incision. Arul Suppiah and Alex Barrow then stabilised things before Will Owen took two wickets in a hostile spell. John Glover and Alex Jones also chipped in with a wicket apiece as Somerset lost two wickets in the final half hour's play, and in what proved to be a decisive passage of play in favour of the Welsh county.
On day two, John Glover (6/56) and Gareth Rees (75) helped Glamorgan 2nd XI to stage a fight-back. Resuming on their overnight score of 62/0, Somerset soon slumped to 86/4 as Glover scythed through their top order, with his opening salvo resulting in the departure of the top four in quick succession, including Arul Suppiah who was trapped lbw and Lewis Gregory who was caught behind by wicket-keeper Chris Cooke.
With Huw Waters in his typically frugal mode, Somerset made slow progress either side of lunch, before slipping again to 201/8 as Glover returned to complete his impressive six-wicket haul. Late resistance from Adam Dibble and Max Waller emulated the achievements of Glamorgan's tail on the opening day as the lower order helped Somerset to sneak a first innings lead of just one run.
After the disappointment of being dismissed second ball on the first day, Gareth Rees then posted an assured 75 before being bowled by Waller. For the second time in the match, Tom Lancefield - the former Surrey batsman - played watchfully and guided Glamorgan 2nd XI to 135/2 at the close of play after 36 overs.
On day one, a century by Nick James (121), who shared a 92-run stand for the ninth wicket with Alex Jones, saw Glamorgan 2nd XI to a total of 254. After the early loss of Gareth Rees, James had the support of Tom Lancefield (34) with the pair adding 66 in 26 overs during the morning session.
Despite 24 from David Lloyd and 21 from Ruadhri Smith, there was the clatter of wickets during the afternoon session and Glamorgan were indebted to the ninth wicket pairing of James and Jones as they ended on 254 after 80.1 overs.
