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Victory for Lancashire in Taunton
A captain’s innings from Marcus Harris helped Lancashire bring an end to Somerset’s unbeaten start to this year’s Metro Bank One Day Cup.
Having won their opening two fixtures in the competition, the hosts were looking to make it three out of three but the Red Rose skipper had other ideas. He contributed a composed 95 to break the back of the 251-run chase and help his side to a victory by two wickets with eight balls to spare. Arav Shetty also caught the eye on his List A debut for the visitors.
More than 6000 were in attendance for Somerset’s victory over Durham on Friday and Members and supporters were once again queueing long before gates opened at the Cooper Associates County Ground today to ensure a good view of the action and to make the most of all the Family Fun Day attractions.
Harris started the day in positive fashion by winning the toss and electing to field.
George Balderson made an early breakthrough when his first delivery, the opening ball of the second over, tempted Tom Lammonby into a drive which was edged to Josh Bohannon at backward point with just five runs on the board.
However, Archie Vaughan and Lewis Goldsworthy weathered the early storm and brought up the Somerset 50 in the 14th over. The half century partnership for the second wicket followed shortly thereafter from 76 deliveries.
A glorious cover drive to the boundary took Goldsworthy to 50 from 70 balls and also brought up the 100 partnership from 143 balls. It also made this the most successful second wicket partnership for Somerset in List A cricket against Lancashire, beating the previous best of 99 by Jimmy Cook and Ricky Bartlett at Taunton in 1989.
The partnership was eventually broken at 124 when Goldsworthy (63) chipped Shetty to Tom Bailey at mid on to put the hosts on 129 for two.
Lancashire then claimed three more quick wickets.
Vaughan fell at 139 for three, stumped off the bowling of Shetty for 59, and when James Rew (4) was dismissed in similar fashion Somerset were 142 for four in the 34th over. Thomas Rew was the next to go, caught behind off 16-year-old Luke Hands for two as Somerset slipped to 146 for five.
Josh Thomas and Fin Hill got the Somerset innings back on track with a fine partnership of 66 before Thomas picked out Michael Jones on the deep square leg boundary and departed for 32 at 212 for six in the 47th.
Hill continued to bat impressively and reached his maiden Somerset 50 from 49 balls. He was run out off the final delivery of the innings for an important 57 as the hosts finished on 250 for seven from their allotted overs. Debutant Kian Roberts contributed 11 not out. Shetty was the pick of the bowlers on debut, finishing with three for 34 from his 10 overs.
Michael Jones and George Bell shared an opening stand of 18 before Josh Davey claimed the initial Lancashire scalp. Having been smashed back over his head for a big six, Davey got his revenge two balls later when Jones picked out Vaughan at extra cover.
Vaughan claimed a second catch, this time on the boundary in front of a delighted Somerset Stand, to remove Bell (21) to give Alfie Ogborne a wicket at 44 for two in the ninth. That soon became 79 for four when Harry Singh was bowled by Vaughan for three in the 18th over.
The Lancashire 100 arrived in the 23rd over before Harris reached his 50 from 61 balls.
Harris and Balderson brought up the half century partnership for the fifth wicket from 56 balls before Harris survived a massive lbw appeal after being struck on the back pad by Orgborne.
In truth, Harris’ innings was probably worthy of a century but he fell five runs short, caught at mid off by Roberts off the bowling of Goldsworthy at 180 for five in the 36th over.
Balderson pulled Lammonby to the boundary to bring up his half century, from 62 balls, which also took Lancashire past the 200-mark after 39 overs, putting the visitors very much in the ascendancy.
However, two quick wickets from JT Langridge gave Somerset hope.
With the score on 225 in the 42nd, Shetty (18) top edged a slower ball bouncer from the tall Somerset seamer to James Rew behind the stumps and the same duo accounted for Balderson (65) in Langridge’s following over, the 44th, for the addition of just three further runs to the total.
Nine were needed when Davey bowled Hands for four in the 47th as Somerset looked to take it down to the wire.
There was even more drama later in the over when Sutton was put down and with that missed opportunity the home side’s hopes of victory also slipped through their fingers.
