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Abu Dhabi T20 Super Cup – Somerset start with a win

Somerset began the Abu Dhabi T20 Super Cup with a 22-run victory over the South Asian Cricket Academy.

SCORECARD

After losing the toss, Somerset Captain Ben Green was invited to bat first.

James Rew and Andy Umeed made their way to the middle and showed good early intent with the Somerset ‘keeper crashing the second ball of the innings to the square leg boundary and then repeating the feat just two balls later as a total of nine runs were gleaned from the opening over.

The opening pair continued in a similar vein and brought up the 50 partnership off the first ball of the sixth over.

With Somerset in the ascendancy in the powerplay SACA needed a breakthrough and that came just three balls later when Rew was caught by Adeel Ahmad Shafique off the bowling of Arafat Bhuiyan for 48 from 30 balls.

The fightback continued when the SACA bowler struck with the very next delivery to remove Lewis Goldsworthy, Amrit Bara taking the catch.

The hat trick was then completed as Tom Lammonby departed courtesy of another catch from Shafique to derail Somerset’s good start.

Sean Dickson joined Andy Umeed as Somerset looked to rebuild and by the end of the 10th over the score was 86 for three.

Umeed fell for 23 in the 11th over at 90 for four and Dickson was joined by Fin Hill.

Dickson took his side to three figures with a maximum in the 13th over and the pair advanced the total to 133 before Hill was bowled by Hishaam Khan for nine off the opening ball of the 17th over.

Dickson brought up his half century from 39 balls with a single to mid on from the opening ball of the 19th over, and Kasey Aldridge made a rapid 26 from 14 balls as Somerset posted a total of 177 for six.

Dickson finished unbeaten on 58 from 42 balls as 19 balls came from the final over. Arafat Bhuiyan was the pick of the bowlers, claiming four for 28 from three overs.

Chasing 178 for victory, SACA reached 33 in the fifth over before Vansh Jani was caught by Aldridge off the bowling of Ben Green for 17.

The SACA 50 arrived in the seventh over courtesy of a six over mid wicket from Daaryoush Ahmed but Jack Leach put the brakes on the innings by claiming two wickets in the eighth over. The England spinner accounted for both Arav Shetty and Daaryoush Ahmed to leave the batting side on 58 for three.

Leach also struck with the first ball of his next over as Ismail Mohammed was bowled for one at 60 for four.

The Somerset bowlers stifled the SACA batters but Amrit Basra went to 50 from 37 balls with a six over square leg off the opening ball of the 18th over.

Josh Davey accounted for Hishaam Khan (28) in the penultimate over as Somerset closed in on victory, and by the end of their allotted overs SACA were restricted to 155 for five.