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Somerset ease past Northants
Somerset bounced back from defeat against Derbyshire on Sunday with a resounding victory over Northamptonshire Steelbacks at the County Ground, Northampton today in the Metro Bank One Day Cup.
Andy Umeed was once again the star, striking a commanding, clinical 63 as the visitors made short work of chasing down 156 to win the game by seven wickets (DLS method) with 148 balls to spare.
Umeed faced just 66 balls, blasting six fours and two sixes and combined with George Thomas (28) to get Somerset’s run chase off to a rapid start, the pair racing to 50 off just 31 balls in a blaze of boundaries. While Umeed fell with just 21 needed for victory, James Rew and Sean Dickson saw them home.
In a match reduced to 49 overs a side due to rain, Saif Zaib cut a lone figure with 57 as Northamptonshire were bundled out for 155 inside 38 overs. Josh Davey claimed two early wickets before Zaib rebuilt, finding support from Ricardo Vasconcelos (29) and Lewis McManus (20).
However, hopes the Steelbacks might post more than 200 were soon dashed as the lower order collapsed, the last four wickets falling for seven in four overs, all seven Somerset bowlers taking at least one wicket.
Earlier Somerset made a crucial early breakthrough to remove Prithvi Shaw, who started positively, taking two boundaries off the opening over before he was caught behind off a beauty from Alfie Ogborne.
Davey then struck in consecutive overs, spearing one back in to clean bowl former Somerset teammate George Bartlett before James Sales played inside the line of a straight ball which hit the top of off-stump to leave Northamptonshire 33 for three at the end of the powerplay.
Vasconcelos pulled Ogborne for two boundaries and helped take Northamptonshire past 50, but after sweeping a wide ball from Archie Vaughan for four, he attempted the same shot to a straight one and was lbw to give the off-spinner his first senior wicket.
Zaib and McManus rebuilt, putting on 46 in 10.2 overs. Zaib smashed Vaughan down the ground for six and pulled George Thomas from outside off-stump for another maximum. McManus too cleared the ropes when he dispatched Vaughan over long-on.
Two quick wickets then fell as first McManus had his off-stump uprooted by George Thomas and Gus Miller was bowled by a Jack Leach delivery which straightened in the next over.
Zaib duly scooped Leach for four to bring up his half-century off 62 deliveries, but that was where Northamptonshire’s celebrations ended as their lower order imploded.
Zaib was first to go, caught in the deep when he attempted to muscle Lewis Goldsworthy over long-off for six. Michael Finan was bowled when he heaved at one from Meredith and missed, Ben Sanderson chipped a return catch back to Goldsworthy, and Freddie Heldreich was caught behind off Ogborne. Justin Broad provided some late resistance, finishing 19 not out.
In the run chase, Thomas took on Sanderson, driving fluently and punching Sanderson through midwicket and flicking him over midwicket for six.
Umeed meanwhile was unfurling textbook cover drives off Finan and played some attacking shots in the air, carving a Sanderson free hit behind square for four and flicking the same bowler over deep square leg for six.
Thomas’ downfall came courtesy of an excellent diving catch from Vasconcelos at short midwicket off Broad, but next batter Goldsworthy (20) was soon into his stride. He got off the mark by cover driving Finan for four and leant into a wide delivery from Broad to square drive him to the ropes. Broad picked up his second wicket though when he pinned Goldsworthy in front lbw with Somerset 88 for two.
Umeed meanwhile was motoring, pulling Sales nonchalantly for four to bring up his half-century and clubbing Heldreich over deep midwicket for a huge six. He was ultimately unable to see his side over the line, edging a catch behind off Sales, leaving Rew and Dickson to wrap up the win.
