Australian overseas bowler Ryan Hadley was the hero for Glamorgan with the bat as they beat Somerset by two wickets in remarkable scenes on day four.

Starting the day at 140-5, Glamorgan needed a further 143 to win, with ex-Somerset stalwart Sean Dickson and nightwatcher Hadley at the crase.

The pair put on an unlikely century partnership for the sixth wicket throughout the first and second sessions on day four, navigating an international calibre bowling attack.

Jake Ball, Craig Overton, Miguel Pretorius, Lewis Gregory et al all got through a monumental amount of work as Dickson and Hadley serenely accumulated the necessary runs.

When the former was dismissed LBW by Overton, and wicketkeeper Chris Cooke departed shortly after with 28 runs to win, the nerves really started to show.

Hadley, though, stayed until the end. Even as Timm van der Gugten came and went, and the ever-skittish Mason Crane joined him for the final knockings, the Australian overseas stood firm.

His incredible effort spanned 231 balls for his maiden first-class half-century, brought up with a straight drive to win the game, sparking joyous scenes at Sophia Gardens.

He came into this game with an average of 5.77 and high score of 15 not out, but played a key role as Glamorgan started day four with 143 needed and five wickets in hand.

“It happened in blocks,” Hadley said afterwards. “I was just hoping to chip away at a few to help the boys. I played and missed a few, luckily not good enough to nick it and Dicko started really well and I don’t really know what happened from there!

“I played and missed a lot, but I just kept rolling, I looked up and we needed 50 then I just counted down in tens, though I was pretty nervy when we lost the eighth wicket.

“I scratched a few round the corner then hit a nice one to win it.

“I was telling the boys I hadn’t been dismissed since coming here, as a joke, so was saying earlier it’s inevitable they’re going to get me for the first time, but I’m still here – it’s a miracle.”

Prior to the ‘miracle’ that Hadley describes, teenager Tom Norton’s hattrick on debut had turned the game in Glamorgan’s favour, but Dickson’s clam head, combined with Hadley’s belligerence, saw the home side come within spitting distance of the win.

“A great result, it all boiled down to day two when Norts (Tom Norton) was outstanding on debut, we’re very grateful and what a debut it’s been,” Dickson added.

“I don’t think it changed anything much (playing against his former side), I had the bit between my teeth and it was nice to put in a performance like that against my former club.

“But it was a game we needed to win, it needed one or two big partnerships so luckily enough Hadders and myself were able to grit it out, and we got there.”

Glamorgan have now won two matches in a row upon their return to the County Championship Division One, and find themselves safely in mid-table after five rounds of the season.

“A long two sessions to get to where we wanted, the patience shown by Ryan and Sean all the way through the partnership was really good,” head coach Richard Dawson reflected.

“We played well against Hampshire last week and came into this game with confidence. There was a bit of a change giving Tom his debut and it was amazing to see how he performed.

“Both teams had their time in front in the game, but we hung in.”

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