Glamorgan overcame Warwickshire Bears by seven wickets with seven balls to spare in a thrilling game of cat and mouse in the Vitality Blast.

Will Smale led with 62 alongside Kiran Carlson‘s explosive 45 off 20 before Asa Tribe and Sean Dickson played the role of calm finishers – taking 22 from five balls in the penultimate over to claim victory despite Usman Tariq temporarily swinging the game with 2 for 13 including two wickets in three balls.

Sam Hain scored 63 not out, supported by Beau Webster’s continued form to recover the Bears innings to 184 for 4 before Glamorgan’s measured approach in the middle overs all but ended Warwickshire Bears’ hopes of qualification from the Central & West group.

Two wickets in three balls to remove both the Bears openers, who appeared to have the intention to try to send everything sent their way into orbit, in the first six brought Webster and Hain to the crease to steady the innings. Their 76-run stand showed Hain’s wealth of experience and Webster’s superb individual form in the Blast – the very reason why he tops the run-scoring charts.

Glamorgan were unusually sloppy in the field. Mason Crane was sluggish to get to a mistimed hook at fine-leg on 33 which subsequently went through him for four. Hain’s plan was simple. He latched on to loose balls, dispatching to the short leg-side boundary and otherwise used his feet to hit Crane straight.

Dan Mousley continued after the platform was set, a reverse-ramp for six followed by a pulled one-bounce four off Nathan McAndrew highlights in a box-office cameo, which Ed Barnard replicated in his seven-ball stay, including one of two ramps for four in the final over which cost Glamorgan 17. A dropped catch which was spilled for four was another blow.

Carlson’s explosive start set the precedent for the innings as is Glamorgan’s general T20 approach. The captain looked well on his way to another quickfire match-winning score with three sixes sailing into the stands, targeting Richard Gleeson in particular.

Tariq’s introduction to remove Carlson first ball then Ben Kellaway for a duck turned the chase on its head. From 75 for 0 in the powerplay to an approach of playing a different game at each end dragged the Bears back.

Smale continued to score well and took over the reins, dispatching a couple Mousley full tosses in his first half-century of the season. At the end of Tariq’s spell the situation was balanced at 43 required from five overs; Smale and Jerseyman Tribe having put on a 67-partnership.

Back-to-back Dickson sixes in the penultimate over secured victory from a seemingly precarious position to give Glamorgan another thrilling win in the Blast.