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Semi final heartbreak for Somerset
Somerset fell at the semi final hurdle as Worcestershire came out on top in this Metro Bank One Day Cup clash at Visit Worcestershire New Road.
The hosts came out on top courtesy of a 131-run (DLS) victory.
Put in, the home side made 275 for nine as Daniel Lategan struck his List A-best 78 (82 balls) against a disciplined Somerset attack with Jack Leach’s excellent 10-1-28-2 at its heart. Ben Green also impressed when he took four for 52.
In reply, Somerset slipped to 108 for seven from 23.4 overs before rain arrived with them more than 100 runs behind the DLS score. After the resumption the visitors were dismissed for 141, James Rew top scoring with 47 as Worcestershire clinched their spot in the final at Trent Bridge on September 20th.
Somerset chose to bowl but were kept waiting for their first breakthrough as openers Lategan and Brett D’Oliveira (45) added 85 in 15 overs. The bowlers gave little away though and, as risks were taken in search of acceleration, wickets began to fall.
D’Oliveira drilled Kasey Aldridge to extra cover. Kashif Ali was caught with the greatest nonchalance by Fin Hill on the mid-wicket boundary off Green. Jake Libby then skied Aldridge to mid off.
Nineteen-year-old Lategan posted a polished maiden List A fifty but fell lbw, reverse-sweeping, to Leach as the spinner built pressure which also saw him bowl Rob Jones through a failed sweep. After Ethan Brookes was lbw, sweeping Tom Lammonby, Worcestershire needed some late order contributions. They got them from Henry Cullen (32) and Matthew Waite (24) before Tom Taylor (22 not out) clubbed three sixes to hoist the total to 275.
Pakistan international Khurram Shahzad then began with two wides, one of which went for four, in his first three balls. From the dubious platform of 0.1-0-6-0, however, he built an opening spell of 7-2-36-4. Lammonby and Lewis Goldsworthy were beaten for pace when trying to pull and sent up catches. Archie Vaughan was brilliantly caught by Ben Allison at mid-wicket. Thomas Rew edged to slip.
Worcestershire’s other seamers deepened Somerset’s plight. Waite had Joshua Thomas well-caught by Lategan on the long leg boundary and Allison dismissed Finley Hill, caught at slip, and Green, caught at mid off.
Green fell to the last ball before heavy rain arrived with Somerset on 108 for seven. They resumed needing 273 (another 165) from 14.2 overs and quickly lost Aldridge, caught behind, and Leach, stumped, off Brookes.
Last pair James Rew and Jake Ball needed to find 137 runs from ten overs. They found five before Rew lifted Brookes to long off as Worcestershire booked their place in the final.
