Abell and Pretorius make Somerset favourites against Glamorgan

Tom Abell has 577 runs in just five Championship matches after top-scoring twice in Cardiff [Huw Evans Picture Agency] Rothesay County Championship, Division One, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff (day three) Somerset 354: Abell 86; Norton 3-75 & 157: Abell 71; Norton 4-61, van der Gugten 3-25, Hadley 3-28 Glamorgan 205: Kellaway 59; Pretorius 3-50 & 140-5: Tribe 52; Pretorius 3-32 Glamorgan (3 pts) need 143 more runs to beat Somerset (6 pts) Match scorecard Somerset's seamers produced a superb final session to make themselves favourites for a win as Glamorgan go into the final day on 140-5, chasing an improbable 283 target on a tricky pitch. Migael Pretorius was the star of the show with a three-wicket burst as Glamorgan stalled badly, with Craig Overton also putting in a sterling spell. Asa Tribe (52) and Zain Ul Hassan had given Glamorgan a strong start with a stand of 80.

Earlier Somerset recovered from 32-6 to reach 157 all out thanks to Tom Abell's 71, with 94 runs coming from the last two wickets despite fine bowling from Timm van der Gugten (3-25). But the swinging momentum on a grassy, bouncy surface seems to be back with the visitors after a hard-fought contest. Notifications, social media and more with BBC Sport 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.