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Sean steers Somerset to sensational victory
One of the most sensational innings the Cooper Associates County Ground has ever witnessed saw Somerset through to a fifth consecutive Vitality Blast Finals Day as Somerset overcame Bears by four wickets in a dramatic encounter.
Sean Dickson smashed a sensational unbeaten 71 from just 26 balls as Somerset claimed a victory that had seemed out of reach for much of the game.
The visitors won the toss and elected to bat.
Rob Yates was in destructive mood and took 24 runs off the second over, bowled by Riley Meredith.
Craig Overton made the much needed breakthrough with the final ball of the third over with the score on 39 when Yates was caught in the deep by Will Smeed for 25 from just 10 balls.
The Bears 50 arrived in the fifth over as Alex Davies smashed five consecutive fours off Overton to take the total to 66.
Davies went to 50 from 24 balls and the 50 partnership for the second wicket arrived from 21 deliveries as the visitors continued to accelerate.
Somerset needed a wicket and it came from the skipper. Lewis Gregory brought himself into the attack and struck with his fifth ball, an absolute beauty that skittled Dan Mousley for 12.
The visitors 100 arrived in the ninth over.
Ben Green finally brought an end to the Davies onslaught in the 12th over. The Bears opener tried a ramp but was bowled for 71. His runs coming from just 39 balls.
There were almost two wickets in the over but Smeed was unable to hold onto a difficult chance diving full length and Ed Barnard survived.
Meredith returned to bowl the 13th over and struck with his fourth ball as Hain slapped him straight to Sean Dickson at cover.
Green claimed his second in the 16th over at 155 for five when Barnard (15) was caught at long on by Overton.
Jake Ball bowled an eventful 17th over which saw George Garton given out lbw only for the batter to be reinstated following a review. However, his reprieved was short lived when he chipped Ball to Gregory just two balls later, departing for two at 159 for six.
The visitors eventually finished on 190 for six from their 20 overs.
The first six of the match came in the third over of the Somerset reply when Tom Kohler-Cadmore dispatched Garton into the back row of the Somerset Stand.
The hosts had reached 28 in the fourth over when Smeed (9) miscued Richard Gleeson to Jake Lintott on the leg side boundary.
Kohler-Cadmore and Tom Abell brought up the Somerset 50 in the seventh over and their partnership was worth 36 when Kohler-Cadmore (32) was caught at long on to give Oliver Hanon-Dalby a wicket at 64 for two in the ninth.
Abell and James Rew took the total to 80 before the latter was caught on the leg side boundary by Barnard off the bowling of Garton for 11.
Abell brought up the Somerset 100 in the 13th over with a big six off Barnard and in the following over Sean Dickson got in on the act, dispatching Briggs into the fan village. That was big, but he went even bigger when he smashed Garton over the Somerset Stand an on to the balcony of the apartments behind.
Abell’s 50 came from 29 balls and the 50 partnership arrived from 25 balls.
However, the former Somerset skipper’s innings came to an end at 51 when he was caught at long off by Yates to give Briggs a wicket at 134 for four in the 16th.
Dickson and Gregory took the score to 156 before Gregory fell for nine in the 18th, caught on the leg side boundary by Mousley off Hanon-Dalby and when Green fell in exactly the same fashion just three balls later the game seemed to be effectively up.
However, Dickson had other ideas!
He reached his 50 from just 19 balls and smashed 14 off the 19th over.
19 runs were needed off the final over and Bears were still in the box seat.
Barnard was given the responsibility of bowling the final six.
The first was a wide and the second saw Overton take a single. 17 were still required. No problem for Dickson.
Balls three and four sailed over the boundary for maximums whilst a four down the ground brought the scores level. A single off the next ball saw Somerset to the most unlikeliest of victories and the sell out crowd rose as one to salute one of the most explosive innings this wonderful ground has ever witnessed.
