Somerset Lose Out In Thrilling Blast Derby
Somerset suffered a first loss in five games in the Vitality Blast following an action-packed derby with Gloucestershire in Bristol.
The defending champions were keen to build on a fine run of form in the competition, with Somerset put in to bat first after losing the toss.
Will Smeed was caught for one in the second over as Somerset made the worst possible start to their innings and it could have got worse had Tom Banton not been dropped when he has also only put one run on the board.
Banton took full advantage of that dropped catch and went firmly on the attack, initially with the support of Tom Kohler-Cadmore and then alongside Tom Abell.
Dropped for a second time when in the 60s, Banton hit an impressive 79 from 53 balls to help Somerset to post a total of 188-4 and set up an interesting chase – with a late cameo from Sean Dickson and Lewis Gregory having helped to boost the final score.
With the potential of rain affecting the result, Gloucestershire started strongly with the bat before Cameron Bancroft was out in the fourth over with 29 on the board.
James Bracey joined Miles Hammond at the crease and the pair had the home side slightly ahead on Duckworth Lewis by the end of the powerplay before Roelof van der Merwe bowled Hammond in the eighth as the rain to leave the score at 70-2.
Bracey was one three wickets that then fell in quick succession as Gloucestershire slipped to 108-5 and Somerset looked well placed for the win – only for Ben Charlesworth and Ollie Price to turn the game completely on its head.
An unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 82 in 32 balls – which included 43 for Price from just 15 balls – saw the home side claim victory by five wickets to leave Somerset third in the group ahead of the resumption of the competition in July.
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