Somerset Secure Knockout Slot
Somerset are through to the knockout stages of the Metro Bank One Day Cup after three successive wins in the final games in Group A.
Six wins from eight games ensured progression to the next stage, although the remainder of the games will need to be completed in the group to determine whether or not the Vertu Motors-backed side goes directly through the semi-final stage.
Keen to bounce back from a narrow loss to Derbyshire, the final run of fixtures kicked off with a trip to Wantage Road to face Northamptonshire – with the home side batting first in a game reduced to 49 overs a side.
Alfie Ogborne removed Prithvi Shaw in the fourth over to give Somerset a solid start with the ball, and both George Bartlett and James Sales departed before the innings was ten overs old with just 33 runs on the board.
Saif Zaib came to the crease to help push the Northamptonshire total up as he hit 57 from 69 balls, but he was one of four wickets to fall for just seven runs towards the end of the innings as the home side were skittled out for 155.
George Thomas and Andy Umeed raced to an opening partnership of 58 from little over six overs before Thomas was first man out for 28, with Umeed leading the charge towards victory with an impressive knock of 63 from 66 balls.
Somerset would ultimately reach their target with ease for the loss of three wickets in little over 24 overs – taking victory with nearly 150 balls left in the innings.
The penultimate game saw Worcestershire arrive at Taunton, with the visitors being put in to bat after losing the toss.
A number of batsman were able to get a start but it was only Tom Taylor who was able to bag a large score as he hit 73 from 65 balls to help steer his side to a total of 263 not out, with opener Gareth Roderick next highest scorer on 35.
Wickets were shared amongst the home bowlers, with Ben Green taking 3-58.
Although Thomas was dismissed first ball for a duck when Somerset went in to start their reply, Umeed and Lewis Goldsworthy shared a stand of 96 to put the home side firmly on track.
After Umeed was dismissed for 44, James Rew helped to take on the chase and he smashed 70 from 60 balls before being third man out with the score on 212. Goldsworthy fell shortly afterwards having just missed out on a century, with Archie Vaughan and Green knocking off the final runs as Somerset took the win by five wickets.
Qualification was then secured with a comfortable win away against Middlesex, where the home side never recovered from losing two wickets in the opening three overs.
Riley Meredith was chief tormentor as he took 4-27, with Middlesex only able to make 135 all out with more than ten overs of their innings left to run.
Victory was never in doubt despite Thomas and Umeed falling relatively cheaply, with Goldsworthy and Rew carrying Somerset over the line with more than 20 overs remaining to take victory by eight wickets.
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