Somerset narrowly failed to add to their list of victories over touring sides as they lost by eight runs to Pakistan at Taunton.

Zander de Bruyn's superb 122 not out gave them a chance to add to wins over Pakistan in 1962 and 1987, but the visitors' extra class with the ball told at the death.

Somerset have beaten the West Indies, Sri Lanka and Australia in the last decade but, chasing 265 to win, they ended on 256-9.

With 82 needed from the last ten overs and de Bruyn scoring well and with seven wickets in hand, Somerset had a chance.

The South African completed his first century of the season (132 balls, seven fours and a six), but wickets fell all around him, with Nick Compton the only other player to make 50.

De Bruyn's was the anchor innings for the big-hitters to play around, but no one could manage to do so.

Teenage debutant Lewis Gregory had a game to remember, taking 4-49, including a triple-wicket maiden – from his ten overs as Pakistan were 264 all out.

Craig Kieswetter, who will link up with the England squad for the Twenty20 internationals against Pakistan, had been the first to go for Somerset in the chase, for five. He tried to turn Umar Gul into the leg-side and got a leading edge to mid-on.

But Compton made a good fist of his promotion to opener, striking five fours in his 50 from 72 balls. The right-hander square-drove, cover drove and pulled fours off the returning Shoaib Akhtar before he was out shortly after reaching his half-century, when he tried to swipe Shahid Afridi's quick leg-spin and skied to backward point.

However, the second-wicket stand of 90 in 20 overs had built Somerset a platform and 57 in 14 between de Bruyn and James Hildreth kept the hosts going nicely.

Pakistan's spinners got the ball to grip to keep Somerset in relative check and Afridi returned to have Hildreth caught and bowled off a leading edge for 31.

De Bruyn played in his normal calm manner to ensure Somerset had wickets in hand ahead of the batting power-play and captain Peter Trego promoted himself up the order in a bid to accelerate the scoring. But there were few gifts on offer from Pakistan.

Their first no-ball came in the 42nd over – greeted of course by ironic cheers – and Saeed Ajmal was predictably tough to play. The off-spinner's ability to bowl the doosra – the ball that spins away from the right-hander – without a noticeable change in his action was key as Ajmal had the charging Trego stumped for 16.

All of Somerset's hope then rested on de Bruyn and 19-year-old Jos Buttler, and the former responded by pulling Gul massively for six into the Somerset Stand. But Buttler reverse-swept Ajmal to point and set off, going too far and being run out by Mohammad Yousuf's throw to the keeper.

Gregory was yorked by Gul for a duck and Arul Suppiah, after pulling the same bowler for six, was caught behind.

Sixteen were needed off the final over but Mark Turner was stumped off Ajmal's first ball, Charl Willoughby skied the second and de Bruyn could not hit the last four balls to the fence.

After winning the toss, Somerset got off to a dream start when Turner claimed two wickets in the fourth over.

The former Durham bowler, who is wanted by Surrey, has been offered a contract by Somerset. First he had Mohammad Hafeez caught at first slip by de Bruyn for nought and, four balls later, new batsman Azhar Ali drove Turner to Gregory at mid-on for another duck.

Willoughby, in a rare one-day appearance this season, bowled a frugal eight-over spell for 25 runs before former captain Yousuf failed to beatTrego's throw from mid-on and was run out at the non-striker's end for 26.

Shazaib Hasan and Fawad Alam, two of the lesser lights of the Pakistan squad, then added a steady partnership of 169 in 31 overs for the fourth wicket.

Alam was second to his fifty, in 68 balls – one fewer than Hasan, who went on to reach his 100 in 117 balls, with nine fours and two sixes.

Gregory was denied when Compton dropped Hasan next ball after his hundred at mid-wicket. But the 20-year-old from Karachi was out soon after, when he tried to club de Bruyn and was caught by Turner at deep square leg for 105.

That brought in returning captain Shahid Afridi, who made two before Gregory claimed a deserved dismissal when the big-hitter spooned him to de Bruyn at extra cover. Turner returned for the death overs and summoned up a fine yorker that forced Alam to play on for 95.

From the first ball of the 46th over, Gregory had another success when Abdul Razzaq swung him to long-off.

Ball No 4 saw the young Devonian claim a third scalp when he got one to leave Gul, who was well caught behind by Buttler, standing up to the first ball of the over. And with the final delivery of his ration of overs – a yorker – he had Ajmal lbw to complete a memorable spell.

Trego's second direct hit of the innings ended Pakistan's effort when he threw out Akhtar for four.