Double Win Keeps Somerset In Contention
Somerset remain firmly in contention to secure a knockout place in the Vitality Blast after a double win in the most recent weekend of fixtures.
The first game of a double-header saw the Vertu Motors-backed side welcome table-toppers Surrey to Taunton, who won the toss and elected to bat first.
Riley Meredith, Craig Overton and Jack Leach all struck early on to leave the visitors on 24-3 inside four overs, but Rory Burns and Sam Curran helped to steady the ship as they put on over 100 for the fourth wickets when Curran was caught off the bowling of Lewis Gregory for 59.
Joined by Jamie Overton at the crease, Burns would make 62 before being caught and bowled by Jake Ball, with Overton’s cameo of 30 from 13 balls helping steer his side to 182-5.
Somerset raced to 42 in the first three overs before losing Tom Banton for 17, with fellow opener George Thomas making 40 before he was caught with the score on 76.
Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Tom Abell put on 67 before the former departed for an impressive 51 that included three sixes although Somerset continued to keep the runs ticking over to hit their target with an over to spare for the loss of four wickets.
Somerset then headed for the Rose Bowl to take on Hampshire, where the home side won the toss and elected to bat first.
Ben McDermott and James Vince put on 45 for the first wicket before Vince fell to the bowling of Migael Pretorious, bringing Tom Prest to the crease.
Prest would go on to top score with 51 before he too was dismissed by Pretorious, with the home side restricted to 157-7 from their 20 overs.
Somerset wasted little time in getting into their stride when replying, with Banton and Thomas putting on 81 for the first wicket before Thomas was dismissed for 29.
That would be the only wicket to fall, with Banton unbeaten on 79 from 52 balls, and Kohler-Cadmore firing 43 from 28s to guide the defending champions to victory by nine wickets - keeping up hopes of a second successive victory in the competition.
New and Used cars near Taunton