Kiran Carlson ton hands Glamorgan victory against Somerset

At Sophia Gardens, Glamorgan defeated Somerset for their first Vitality Blast victory thanks to Kiran Carlson's magnificent century off 42 balls. The Glamorgan captain gave bowlers déjà vu from his only other T20 century when he struck 135 in a record-breaking win against the west country side in Cardiff two years ago. On this occasion, Carlson finished on 109 to steer Glamorgan home by seven wickets. Carlson rode his luck early on but took advantage of a new look Glamorgan side as Jimmy Neesham was also given a debut for a seventh individual county against an injury-hampered, previously unbeaten Somerset side. Nathan McAndrew, a debutant, and Mason Crane, a leg spinner, both contributed to his new county's victory by going 4 for 15 and 3 for 42, respectively, to counter Tom Banton's destructive innings (59 off 25). Banton got off to a flying start to give Somerset a productive powerplay. Things weren't always going Glamorgan's way either - Josh Thomas' first T20 for Somerset started with an outside edge for four against the off-spin of Ben Kellaway in the first over. After McAndrew struck in the fifth, the game was briefly halted, but when Crane came on, Banton reached a 21-ball 50 with a six on the seventh ball, followed by another. As the Rew brothers James and Thomas, Tom Abell, and Daniel Sams all made starts but were unable to continue at his pace, Banton's dismissal before further damage could be done was crucial. From 100 for 2 at the halfway stage, Glamorgan fought back with frequent single-digit overs, McAndrew finishing strong with two wickets at the death. In response, although the scorecard would suggest otherwise, Carlson's magnificence wasn't necessarily obvious from the start. Eighteen of the captain's first 33 runs in just 16 balls came from edges in the powerplay with a short-third and fine-leg both operating in the circle. Will Smale's first delivery, which was flicked to fine leg for four, was a much nicer sight than his ramp attempt the previous time, which got him the first ball. Like Banton, Carlson brought up his 50, then the century with a six off Lewis Goldsworthy and Josh Shaw respectively. Somerset would rue missing a direct hit when the centurion was on just 14 taking a single to mid-on. After taking a lot of wickets, Sean Dickson scored the winning runs to send the Welsh county home against the champions.