Lancashire defeat ends Somerset’s One Day Cup hopes
Centuries from Keaton Jennings and Rocky Flintoff saw Lancashire to a 174 run victory over Somerset in this Metro Bank One Day Cup clash at the Cooper Associates County Ground.
Another bumper crowd was in attendance at Taunton hoping that a number of variables would come to pass and see Somerset progress in the competition.
Unfortunately for the majority of those present, the hosts were unable to chase down a target of 444 and the defeat ended Somerset’s hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages.
After being invited to bat first, the Lancashire opening pair of Keaton Jennings and Matty Hurst started in positive fashion and the half century partnership arrived in the ninth over.
The score had advanced to 83 when Hurst eventually fell to a stunning catch from Migael Pretorius three runs shy of his 50. He looked to dispatch Archie Vaughan, bowling from the River End, over the rope but miscued and Pretorius took a brilliant grab on the run and diving full length in front of the Colin Atkinson Pavilion.
The scoreboard ticked over to three figures in the 17th over, but Josh Bohannon (8) was dismissed off the opening ball of the 18th for the addition of just one further run to the total. The Lancashire number three danced down the track but was deceived by Vaughan and Ben Church whipped off the bails.
Undeterred by the departure of his colleagues, Jennings reached his half century from 54 deliveries.
Marcus Harris raced to 26 but was undone by a good full length delivery from James Theedom at 138 for three in the 23rd over.
Lancashire’s 150 arrived in the 25th over with the 200 registering in the 31st. Jennings and Rocky Flintoff then brought up their 100 partnership from just 68 deliveries before the latter reached 50 from 37 balls.
Jennings went to three figures from 97 deliveries and the scoreboard displayed the Lancashire 250 in the 36th over.
The Lancashire opener’s 150 arrived from 121 balls, with the 200 partnership coming from 119.
Jennings’ remarkable innings finally came to an end at 156 when he picked out Pretorius on the boundary in front of the County Room off JT Langridge at 352 for four in the 44th over. His innings included 15 fours and seven sixes, and he quite rightly received a warm reception from those gathered at Taunton as he left the field.
Flintoff continued to score freely and his maiden century for the Red Rose County came from 65 balls.
Harry Singh (20) picked out Johnny Connell at deep extra cover off Pretorius but a maximum off the next ball by Jack Blatherwick took the visitors past the 400 mark.
Flintoff had reached 123 when he was caught by Vaughan off Pretorius at 417 for six, and the Taunton faithful once again rose to applaud the 18-year-old as he departed.
23 runs came from the final over, Blatherwick finishing on 32 not out from just 10 balls, as Lancashire posted 443 for six, their best score in List A and the highest ever List A total at the venue.
Somerset lost Connell for nine in the fourth over and when Sav Perera (5) fell in similar fashion the home side were 33 for two in the sixth.
Tom Lammonby and Lewis Goldsworthy (24) began the rebuild and shared a third wicket stand of 52 before the latter picked out Blatherwick in the deep off Balderson at 85 for three after 15 overs.
Somerset went to three figures in the 17th over and Lammonby brought up his fifth List A half century for the Club from 45 deliveries.
Lammonby and Josh Thomas brought up the 50 partnership for the fourth wicket from just 30 balls as Somerset remained in the hunt. However, with the score on 150, Thomas was bowled by Singh for 42, his runs coming from just 23 deliveries.
Lammonby’s resistance was ended when he looked to dispatch a short one from Aspinwall into the Somerset Stand but didn’t quite get hold of it and it was picked off by Singh on the boundary. He departed for 68 as Somerset slipped to 170 for five in the 25th over, and when Vaughan fell for three the writing was well and truly on the wall.
Church brought up the Somerset 200 with a big six off Aspinwall into the Trade Nation Stand but was caught on the edge of the ring by a running Bohannon for 24 at 212 for seven.
James Theedom (18) and Josh Shaw (34) were bowled by Balderson and when Pretorius fell for 11 the game was up as Somerset were dismissed for 269.
Balderson and Aspinwall were the pick of the visiting attack with four wickets each.
