Superb Thomas defuses Chargers

Alfonso Thomas took two wickets before shepherding Somerset to victory with a crucial unbeaten 30 off just 17 deliveries

Alfonso Thomas kept a cool head in a tense finish as Somerset Sabres clinched a thrilling one-wicket win over Indian Premier League champions Deccan Chargers in the Champions League Twenty20 in Hyderabad.

The Chargers, asked to bat first, were restricted to 153 for nine despite a free-flowing 46 from VVS Laxman.

RP Singh undermined Somerset’s top order with three quick wickets, while spinners Pragyan Ojha and Tirumalasetti Suman claimed two each.

However, James Hildreth and Thomas combined to rescue Somerset from the depths of 99 for seven with a rapid eighth-wicket stand worth 50.

With five needed to win, Hildreth, who made 25, fell to the first ball of the final over - bowled by Scott Styris - and Max Waller to the third, but Thomas struck the next delivery for four and repeated the feat off the last ball of the game to seal a sensational victory. He finished unbeaten on 30 off just 17 deliveries.

Earlier, Laxman traded his artistic touch for one of sheer muscle as he got the Chargers off to a flier, while Adam Gilchrist bludgeoned Charl Willoughby for two fours and a six in an over costing 17.

Gilchrist’s innings ended when his mistimed pull looped to Marcus Trescothick, running from slip to gully, but the 50 was raised in just 4.3 overs and the powerplay yielded 63 runs, the most productive of the tournament.

Peter Trego, who went for 10 in his first over, had Andrew Symonds taken by Hildreth at long-on in his next, before bowling Laxman with a slower ball.

It helped check Deccan’s momentum, although Rohit Sharma made 24 before lifting Zander de Bruyn to Hildreth at long-on.

Scott Styris was trapped in front by a Thomas yorker, and it was left to Venugopal Rao, who smashed cameo 22 off 12 balls, to help the Chargers to a competitive total.

Trescothick began the chase in positive fashion, hitting Fidel Edwards for 12 in his first over, only to top-edge a pull off RP Singh to wicketkeeper Gilchrist.

Justin Langer and de Bruyn kept Somerset on track until both fell in Singh’s third over. Langer failed to clear Rao at mid-on while de Bruyn edged a full-length delivery to Gilchrist, diving to his right.

It sparked a collapse that saw Somerset lose six wickets for 49 runs, with Craig Kieswetter, Peter Trego, Arul Suppiah and Ben Phillips falling cheaply.

Cue Hildreth and Thomas’ alliance, which spanned just 32 balls and ultimately settled the contest.

Styris denied Hildreth the chance to hit the winning runs, and set up a thrilling climax by having Waller caught and bowled, but Thomas dispatched a full toss past point before smashing the last ball over point.