TOM Banton continued his stellar white-ball campaign as his explosive 64 led Somerset to a winning start in their 2019 Vitality Blast campaign, away to Glamorgan on Thursday night.

The hosts made an excellent start at Sophia Gardens, but three wickets in three overs stalled their progress and despite Colin Ingram plundering 26 in the final over, Somerset were able to overhaul their total of 180-5 to win by eight wickets, with two overs to spare.

Glamorgan were put in to bat first on losing the toss, but they sprinted to 70 without loss by the end of the six-over powerplay.

The opening partnership of 82 was ended in the ninth over, Jeremy Lawlor (43) being caught by Max Waller off the bowling of Roelof van der Merwe.

Craig Overton trapped David Lloyd (57) lbw, and Glamorgan then lost three wickets between the 16th and 18th overs.

Van der Merwe (2-17 off four) was by far the visitors' most economical bowler, and it was he who accounted for Chris Cooke (14), before Jerome Taylor and Overton reduced the hosts to 140-5.

Overton did blot his copybook somewhat, however, as he was hit for three sixes and two fours by Ingram in the final over of the hosts' innings.

It meant that the visitors would need to score at nine runs an over to win, but Banton set them on their way with 22 from Marchant De Lange's opening over.

Partnered by overseas signing Babar Azam, Banton led Somerset to 75-0 after six overs.

The 98-run opening partnership was eventually broken when Babar (35) was caught off the bowling of Dan Douthwaite, and Banton followed in the 10th over for 64 (from 34 balls, with five sixes and five fours), well caught by Billy Root off Andrew Salter.

But the foundations had been laid, and the experience of James Hildreth (24no) and Peter Trego (47no) saw Somerset ease to the target in 18 overs.

Next up for them is a trip to Kent on Saturday, when they will be without T20 captain Lewis Gregory and spinner Jack Leach due to their England Test call-ups.