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Greatest comeback wins of the 21st century
Somerset have been involved in some incredible fixtures over the years, but the ones that stand out are the games that have seen the Club snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
So let’s take a look back at some of our greatest comeback wins of the 21st century!
Is your favourite match listed here? Let us know via our social media channels.
Dutch defies the odds
Warwickshire were the visitors to Taunton for this C&G Trophy semi-final in August 2001.
After being put in, the visiting openers (Nick Knight and Mark Wagh) shared a stand of 101 for the first wicket. That set a solid foundation, which saw them post a total of 228 for eight from their allotted overs.
The Somerset reply got off to the worst possible start when Marcus Trescothick, Peter Bowler and Mike Burns all found themselves back in the dressing room with the score on just six.
Jamie Cox (47) got the hosts back on track with the help of Keith Parsons (31) and Ian Blackwell (30), but when the Somerset skipper fell and Keith Dutch made his way to the middle to join Rob Turner the score was 130 for six and hope seemed lost. 99 runs were still required with all the specialist batters back in the hutch.
Dutch however had other ideas!
The combative spinner took on the Warwickshire attack as he and Turner kept the scoreboard ticking over.
Dutch made 61 not out from just 54 balls as the pair shared a stand of 100 for the seventh wicket as Somerset claimed a dramatic win by four wickets.
Another semi-final, another thriller
Fast forward 12 months and Somerset were putting the Members and supporters through another nail biting C&G Trophy semi-final at Taunton!
Having set Kent a formidable total of 345 for victory, the visitors had batted impressively to require just nine runs from 15 balls.
Then this happened:
Blackie blasts Derby
Derbyshire were the visitors to Taunton for a County Championship match in September 2003 when Ian Blackwell had possibly his finest moment in a Somerset shirt.
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Somerset slipped to 42 for five. That soon became 112 for seven and the home side were in big trouble.
Step forward Ian Blackwell.
He smashed his way to a sensational 247 from just 156 balls as his side posted a first innings total of 409.
Derbyshire were eventually set a second innings total of 224 to win, but Blackwell claimed four wickets as the visitors were dismissed for 196.
Jamie and Tim secure sensational derby win
There’s always a little extra spice to a local derby, and when Gloucestershire visited Taunton in the Royal London One-Day Cup in 2016 it looked like the bragging rights would be heading back up the M5 to Bristol.
Chasing 261 for victory, the hosts had slipped to 198 for nine in the 42nd over.
However, Jamie Overton and Tim Groenewald shared a last wicket stand of 65 as Somerset claimed the narrowest of victories in the final over.
Roelof brings Somerset back from the dead
Somerset welcomed Surrey to Taunton in the Royal London One-Day Cup in 2017, and it was a match that will live long in the memory.
Needing 291 to win, Somerset slipped to 22 for five.
Roelof van der Merwe then brought his team back from the dead by scoring 165 from 122 balls to see Somerset claim an improbable win.
Somerset recover from 89/9
Somerset traveled to Lord’s to take on Middlesex in the County Championship in April 2021, and the home of cricket would witness a great comeback win for the visitors.
Five wickets for Lewis Gregory helped Somerset dismiss their hosts for 313 in the first innings, but they slipped to 89 for nine in reply. Marchant de Lange scored a half century to help take the score to 172 and give his side hope, but Middlesex were still very much in the driving seat.
However, Craig Overton, Josh Davey and Jack Leach all claimed three second innings wickets as the hosts set Somerset a victory target of 285.
Somerset started the final day on 112 for three and the game was very much in the balance…
Yet another remarkable semi-final
As the 2021 Vitality Blast semi-final between Somerset and Hampshire entered it’s last stages, only the staunchest Somerset supporter would have given their side a chance of coming out on top, but some incredible performances with the bat from the Somerset tail saw the side from the West Country advance to the final in thrilling style.
Roelof secures derby delight
Somerset were very much up against it at Bristol in the 2022 Vitality Blast.
Rain meant that the visitors needed 112 from 10 overs.
Having slipped to 55 for seven, the writing was on the wall.
However, no one had told Roelof van der Merwe whose 48 off 15 balls is one of the most remarkable innings the game has ever witnessed.
Sensational semi win sets up Blast glory
Somerset took on Surrey in the semi-final of this year’s Vitality Blast.
Batting first, Somerset made 142 for seven from 19 overs. The general consensus was that the total would not be enough to make it through to the final.
However, the Somerset bowlers had other ideas.
Craig Overton, Matt Henry and Ben Green put the Surrey batters to the sword, and the rest is history…
What was your favourite comeback win?
Let us know via social media.
