Overton double act go out with a bang

Craig and Jamie Overton combined with lethal effect for possibly the last time at Taunton as they bowled Somerset to a crushing victory with a total of 14 wickets between them.

The twins were unplayable throughout much of this game as Glamorgan were outclassed by their Division One opponents.

Jamie has signed a three-year deal with Surrey to further his England ambitions and look for a fresh challenge. He showed what Somerset will be missing, swinging the ball at extreme pace and claiming five wickets in the second innings.

The younger twin has grappled with the decision for most of the year and admitted being loaned to Northamptonshire last summer had affected his thinking.

“It's been a tricky one because at times I feel like I'm a little bit down the pecking order here. Going out on loan last year didn't really help.

“I want to be playing. I’m getting to an age where if I don’t play for England in the next three years, I'm probably not going to. That's really what I want to do. I feel like I've got to be playing week-in, week-out to prove that I can do it at that level.

“Days like today, if I can do that for the next five or six games, who knows. I spoke to Darren Gough. He said, if you play really well, you could be in a Test side within four games.”

Jamie said this was the best he and his brother had bowled together since their early days in Minor Counties cricket with Devon.

“We've always played together, so next year is going to be very strange playing against each other. There’ll probably be a few words. It’s all friendly, brotherly love! Playing for England would be a dream come true. If we can do it together, that'd be amazing.

“Craig’s attitude and the way he goes about things is amazing. I look up to that a little bit. We’re both competitive, but he's just got that fine edge and he can just crank out what he needs to do which is an incredible effort.”

Craig, who has played four Tests, recently spent time in the England bubble as a reserve. He hopes his five wickets in the first innings which blew away Glamorgan’s top order, will keep pressure on the selectors.

"I spoke to the selectors to try to find ways to get into that Test side and stay there. They want me to put on a yard of pace and still have that accuracy, so I've changed my run-up so there’s a bit more momentum. I’ve made sure I’ve got more energy going towards the stumps. It seems to be working quite well.”

Craig’s own future though is still uncertain.

"My contract is still under negotiation. It's quite a tricky time but I'm a big Somerset player at the minute and I'll be giving my all for the cause. It feels like there are other counties that have a bigger sway [on England selection].”

Glamorgan coach Matt Maynard said: “Our skipper led brilliantly by example [ in the second innings]. He asked for a bit of resolve and the guys did try their best.

“It's about learning, raising our standards and being capable of handling it.”

Star Men

The Overton twins were relentless throughout. Craig showed the form that has won him four Test caps while Jamie’s pace proved too hot to handle.

Moment of the match

Somerset’s Steve Davies and Jack Brooks shared a record century partnership for the last wicket on day one to rebuild after a batting collapse. It put Somerset in the ascendancy and allowed the bowlers to put the pressure on. Tom Abell’s century then put the match out of Glamorgan’s reach.