County Championship: Somerset seamers on top against Glamorgan

Resuming in the perilous position of 32-6 after Tom Norton’s historic hat-trick heroics the previous evening, Somerset lost Craig Overton (15) and Migael Pretorius (6) to Timm van der Gugten’s opening spell to leave them 63-8, leading by just 188 runs.

But Lewis Gregory struck a vigorous 45, including eight fours, in a stand of 64 with Abell for the ninth wicket before another fine delivery from van der Gugten clipped the captain’s off-stump.

Abell farmed the bowling effectively to protect last man Jake Ball as Somerset’s lead grew ominously and even an extension of eight overs in the morning session did not allow Glamorgan to end proceedings.

Ryan Hadley finally dismissed Abell two balls after the break, his runs including six fours and two sixes, while Ball did not contribute to an important stand of 30.

That appeared to leave Somerset firm favourites, but Zain Ul Hassan and Tribe made a productive start despite the match pattern of numerous plays and misses continuing.

Ul Hassan nearly played on to Overton on 19, while Tribe was dropped behind off the same bowler on 20, but both batters drove firmly to put away the odd over-pitched ball and Glamorgan reached 80-0 by tea.

Overton got his reward in the first over after the break, switching ends, as Ul Hassan (35) edged to slip and the bowler conceded just six runs in a fine seven-over spell.

Kiran Carlson got tied down and was caught behind off Jake Ball slashing at a wide delivery.

Then came a brief revival from Tribe and Ben Kellaway, but Pretorius struck potentially decisive blows as he had Tribe caught behind, pinned Colin Ingram lbw and then forced Kellaway (22) into providing a third catch to James Rew.

Ryan Hadley was the surprise choice as night-watchman, but specialist batter Sean Dickson was still needed to emerge at seven against his former team-mates to play out the closing overs against a buoyant attack.