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Somerset sweep Gloucestershire aside to secure semi final place
Somerset comprehensively overcame local rivals Gloucestershire at the Cooper Associates County Ground to secure a Metro Bank One Day Cup semi final against Worcestershire Rapids.
The home side claimed the derby bragging rights courtesy of a six wicket victory which was secured with 81 balls to spare.
It was a genuine team performance by Paul Tweddle’s side which saw them reach the final four of the competition for a second consecutive season.
The visitors won the toss and raised a few eyebrows by electing to bat under overcast skies with poor weather forecast for later in the day.
Jake Ball struck with the second ball of the match when he bowled James Bracey for 0. However, Cameron Bancroft (34) and Ollie Price shared a second wicket stand of 56 before the former was caught and bowled by Kasey Aldridge in the 14th over.
Price (25) was then lbw to Tom Lammonby for the addition of just 13 runs to the total.
Ben Charlesworth survived a loud lbw appeal from Jack Leach when on nine but departed for 19 when he slapped Lammonby straight to Ben Green at mid on at 97 for four.
Graeme van Buuren faced five deliveries and fell without scoring when Lammonby took a simple catch off his own bowling as the visitors slipped to 97 for five in the 26th.
The Gloucestershire 100 arrived in the 27th over as Jack Taylor and Tommy Boorman added 29 for the sixth wicket before the latter was lbw to Leach for nine.
Gloucestershire then slipped to 140 for eight as Daaryoush Ahmed (2) fell to a brilliant sliding catch on the boundary by Aldridge off Leach before Taylor’s resistance was finally broken at 43 by Green; Aldridge again taking the catch.
Jake Ball was brought back into the attack at the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion End to bowl the 39th over and he struck with his first delivery of the spell. It was a beauty that Matt Taylor (2) could only edge behind at 146 for nine.
Ball concluded the Gloucestershire innings when he had Craig Miles caught behind as the visitors were dismissed for 155. The experienced seamer finished with three for 30, whilst Lammonby claimed three for 22. Leach’s economic two for 23 from 10 overs was also crucial.
In reply, Somerset had reached 16 without loss from five overs when the heavy rain that had been threatening finally began to fall.
Following a 90 minute delay, play resumed but with just five additional runs added to the total Matt Taylor found Archie Vaughan’s outside edge and James Bracey took a good diving catch low down to his right.
The scoreboard had moved to 47 when Lammonby (18) reached for a wide one from Miles and got the finest of edges through to Bracey.
The Somerset 50 arrived in the 12th over but shortly afterwards the players were forced to scurry from the field of play for the sanctuary of the dressing rooms once more by further rain with the scoreboard showing 53 for two in the 14th over.
This second delay resulted in the announcement of a revised target for the hosts of 149 from 45 overs.
Lewis Goldsworthy and James Rew took the total to 86 before Goldsworthy (27) got a leading edge which enabled Ahmed to take a regulation catch off his own bowling.
James was joined in the middle by his brother Thomas and the pair took their side to three figures in the 23rd over. The partnership was worth 42 when the older brother was beaten by Jack Taylor and stumped by Bracey for 46 at 128 for four.
The departure of his brother did nothing to impede Thomas’ stroke play and he dispatched Jack Taylor into the St James Street fan village for a big maximum and then hit the winning run to take his score to 40 and seal Somerset’s semi final place.
Tickets for Somerset’s Metro Bank One Day Cup semi final at Worcestershire are available now.
