Somerset regain the ascendancy after hard-fought third day
Abell makes crucial runs before Glamorgan lose five wickets in 283-run chase
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Published: May 10, 2026, 6:17 PM (7 hrs ago)
Tom Abell’s battling half-century revived Somerset’s second innings • Getty Images
Glamorgan 229 (Kellaway 59, Pretorious 3-50) and 140 for 5 (Tribe 52) need 143 runs to beat Somerset 354 (Abell 86, Thomas 71, Norton 3-75) and 157 (Abell 71, Norton 4-61)
Tom Abell’s second half-century in the game, followed by a late flurry of Glamorgan wickets, has set up an intriguing final day for Somerset at Cardiff, after their perilous position at the close of the second day.
Somerset had resumed on 32 for 6 following debutant Tom Norton‘s hat-trick in a chaotic final hour on day two. However, Abell dug deep for 71, his eighth score above 40 in nine innings this season. He was well supported by 45 from captain Lewis Gregory to lift Somerset to 157 before their four-pronged seam attack added pressure to a stubborn Glamorgan chase.
Asa Tribe notched up his third half-century this season as Glamorgan’s opening pair added 81 before their international-capped bowling attack found success, particularly Migael Pretorius who claimed three wickets to leave the hosts 140 for 5 overnight, needing a further 143 to win.
Earlier, Timm van der Gugten hadn’t taken the field on the second evening for precautionary reasons, but his first bowl of the match served up three wickets, a foreshadowing of what would come when it was Glamorgan’s turn to bat.
However, Abell continued his fine form for the season with another half-century, making him the top run-scorer in both innings for his side in the morning session fightback. As well as adding 64 with Gregory, who was in punishing form with eight fours in his 61-ball stay, the visitors then added 30 for the final wicket, all added by Abell.
Glamorgan permitted a single on the fifth ball of every over, meaning that Jake Ball was able to stand firm for 21 run-less balls, even surviving the extra eight overs to head to a late lunch break.
When Abell was trapped trying to whip Hadley off a middle-stump line on the second ball after lunch, Glamorgan were set 283 to win. They were well served by an opening stand of 81 between Zain-ul-Hassan and Tribe, although Tribe was dropped by James Rew on 20 off a fired-up Craig Overton.
Just as the lunch break had done for Somerset, so tea came at the wrong time for Glamorgan; a tough session followed, with Zain edging to slip for 35 and Kiran Carlson snicking off for 4. Tribe and Ben Kellaway both prodded outside off stump and Ingram struggled once more to give Somerset the chance to cement their west-country dominance going into the final day.
