Alfonso Thomas kept a cool head in a tense finish as the Somerset Sabres clinched a thrilling one-wicket win over Deccan Chargers in the Airtel CL T20 match.
The Indian Premier League champions, Deccan Chargers, asked to bat first, were restricted to a below-par 153 for nine - despite an uncharacteristic 46 from VVS Laxman.
RP Singh then destroyed Somerset's top order with three quick wickets, and spinners Pragyan Ojha and Tirumalasetti Suman claimed two each - but James Hildreth (25) and Alfonso Thomas (30 no) helped Somerset to an unlikely victory.
Laxman, opening the innings alongside Adam Gilchrist, traded his artistic touch for one of sheer muscle and brutality as he got the Chargers off to a flier.
Opening bowler Charl Willoughby was smacked for two boundaries in his first over - and Thomas was only a trifle less profligate, conceding seven in his first over as Laxman overshadowed Gilchrist.
But Gilchrist launched his attack with customary savagery as he bludgeoned Willoughby for consecutive boundaries and a six in his second over.
Gilchrist's innings, however, ended when he mistimed Thomas to gully - and Marcus Trescothick, playing his first competitive match on foreign soil since February 2006, ran around from slip to hold a good catch.
Laxman continued his assault, and the Chargers galloped along at a heady rate.
The 50 was raised in just 4.3 overs, and the powerplay yielded a total of 63 - the highest in this tournament so far.
Medium-pacer Peter Trego, hit for 10 in his first over, achieved a turnaround by getting rid of Andrew Symonds cheaply and later the in-form Laxman.
Thereafter, the Chargers lost momentum - and Rohit Sharma (24) and Scott Styris were forced to nurse the innings along.
Their stand was brief, though, and only Venugopal Rao's cameo 22 off 12 balls helped the Chargers to a competitive score.
Trescothick began the chase on a positive note, hitting Fidel Edwards for 12 in his first over.
But the left-handed former England opener soon miscued a pull at RP Singh to wicketkeeper Gilchrist.
Justin Langer and Zander de Bruyn kept Somerset on track for a while - until both fell to Singh in the left-arm seamer's third over.
From 50 for one, Somerset plunged to 99 for seven - but still needed only 44 from the last five overs.
A slight drizzle and a wet outfield made the task harder for the Chargers' slow bowlers, and Edwards then had to be taken out of the attack for delivering his second beamer - having been warned at the start of the innings for bowling one at Trescothick.
Hildreth and Thomas strung together a 50-run stand for the eighth wicket, and Somerset needed just five off the last over.
Scott Styris provided another twist by taking the wickets of Hildreth and Max Waller, but Alfonso struck two boundaries to get his team over the line.
Teams:
Deccan Chargers: VVS Laxman, Adam Gilchrist (C) (W), Tirumalsetti Suman, Andrew Symonds, Rohit Sharma, Scott Styris, Venugopal Rao, RP Singh, Fidel Edwards, Pragyan Ojha, Harmeet Singh.
Somerset: Justin Langer (C), Marcus Trescothick, Zander de Bruyn, Craig Kieswetter, Arul Suppiah, Peter Trego (W), James Hildreth, Ben Phillips, Alfonso Thomas, Max Waller, Charl Willoughby.
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