Somerset County Cricket Club has issued a formal apology following repeated floodlight failures during Thursday night’s Vitality Blast game against Glamorgan at the Cooper Associates Ground in Taunton. The floodlights unexpectedly went out three separate times, impairing the match that ended with Glamorgan securing a thrilling four-wicket win off the final ball.
Somerset, batting first after losing the toss, posted a competitive total of 202 for six. Captain Lewis Gregory led the charge with a blistering 54 from 28 balls, forming a vital 90-run fifth-wicket partnership with Tom Abell who scored 41. Dan Douthwaite was Glamorgan’s leading bowler, taking two wickets for 35 runs in his four overs.
In response, Glamorgan reached 194 for five in 19.2 overs, boosted by Sean Dickson’s explosive 63 from 36 deliveries and Asa Tribe’s steady 48. The contest was punctuated by three floodlight outages—twice early in the innings and once again with four balls remaining. Ultimately, Jimmy Neesham’s boundary on the final ball sealed Glamorgan’s dramatic victory.
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The floodlight issues were not new; Somerset had experienced similar problems earlier this season in County Championship matches. After investigating, the club revealed no direct faults but admitted a “deeper intervention” involving floodlight manufacturers Musco and power supplier National Grid is underway to identify and resolve the issue ahead of upcoming fixtures.
In an official statement, Somerset expressed regret for the disruptions to supporters, players, match officials, and broadcasters. They acknowledged the Cooper Associates Ground’s reputation for excellent Vitality Blast presentations and vowed to restore its high standards promptly.
On the field, Somerset’s innings started well, with openers Tom Banton and Josh Thomas putting on a quick 50-run stand inside five overs. Banton impressed with 39 runs, including five fours and two sixes, before falling to former Somerset player Ned Leonard. Despite Leonard’s expensive bowling, Glamorgan fought back vigorously, led by aggressive hitting from Kiran Carlson and Dickson.
Notably, the floodlight outages caused delays and forced the umpires to consult captains before resuming play under diminished lighting. The interruptions added tension to an already close contest that saw numerous swings in momentum.
Somerset’s hopes of defending their Vitality Blast title were challenged further when they lost to Gloucestershire the following evening. The club looks ahead to their next matches with a home game against Warwickshire on Sunday and a floodlit fixture against Gloucestershire on June 26.
The club thanked fans for their patience and unwavering support despite the evening’s unexpected hurdles and is committed to preventing such issues in the future to ensure a seamless spectator experience.