Somerset seal slot in Bob Willis final
Somerset have booked their place at Lord’s once again after sealing top spot in their Bob Willis Trophy group following their 60-run win over Worcestershire last week.
The Royal London One-day Cup holders set the home side a 245 target and dismissed them for 184 mid-way through the final day’s afternoon session.
Lewis Gregory and Josh Davey with three wickets apiece were the main architects of Worcestershire’s downfall but it was another impressive team performance and put the icing on a hugely successful Trophy campaign.
Somerset won four of their five matches and were only denied almost certain victory by the rain in the other match against Warwickshire at Edgbaston.
Their tally of 97 points is comfortably the highest by any county.
The bedrock of their success with the ball have been Craig Overton and Davey with a combined tally of more than 50 wickets in the competition.
Tom Abell (352 runs) and first innings century-maker Tom Lammonby (343) have been the main contributors with the bat amongst a total of five different centurymakers.
Somerset will now face Essex at that Lord’s showpiece on Wednesday.
After the match captain Abell said: “It was a relatively low scoring game so there were always going to be times when you were on the front foot and then they might get little partnerships.
“But on the whole I felt we kept our composure really well. Of course, you always want more runs on the board but we always felt it was going to be a tricky chase because it was tough to score.
“With the way we are bowling at the moment, we are asking lots of questions of every batting side so we’ve got huge faith in our attack and how we go about things in the field as well to compliment that has been outstanding.
“We were always aware they were going to have partnerships but I thought we stuck in, kept asking questions and bowled fantastically well and kept taking wickets at key times.
“That’s what we have done all season and today was no different.
“Of course, we wouldn’t have been in the position without the efforts of Lammers [Lammonby]. That was an innings far beyond his years.
“To play with that temperament and skill, especially when there were wickets falling all around him, I can’t speak highly enough of that innings. It is one of the best I’ve seen, for sure.”
For all the ecstasy of the Bob Willis
Trophy, the Vitality Blast is proving a much more difficult kettle of fish with Somerset currently fourth in their group with three games remaining, including the game at Glamorgan that took place last night, after scoring just two wins so far.
Somerset were narrowly beaten by three runs on Friday by visiting Worcestershire, who claimed their first win of the tournament. Worcestershire had posted 168-4 after Max Waller took 1-21 from his four overs but Somerset could only managed 165-8 despite 60 from Abell.
That was followed by an 11-run defeat against group leaders Gloucestershire on Sunday, again at the Cooper Associates County Ground. The visitors posted 203-6 after losing the toss with Waller impressing again after escaping the carnage with 3-18.
In reply, Somerset made 192-8. 18-year-old Will Smeed hit a valiant 82 on only his second T20 appearance and Lewis Gregory contributed 38.
After his innings, Smeed said: “I actually bought a season ticket to watch the team play T20 cricket this summer, so to be out there with them is unreal.
“I have been with the county since the age of eight, so I am Somerset through and through. That made today even more special, but I was gutted not to be able to get the team across the line.
“I am doing all I can to learn from the experienced players in the dressing room. White ball cricket is probably my forte at the moment, but I am working hard on my red ball game too.”
IN the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, Western Storm have unfortunately missed out on a place in the final following a 32-run defeat at Southern Vipers. Georgia Adam smashed the highest score of the tournament to send the Vipers through after they amassed 288-1.
A brilliant 129-run stand between captain Sophie Luff and wicket-keeper Nat Wraith put the game back in the balance for Storm but they were eventually bowled out for 256 on the final ball.
After the match, Luff said: “It was a tough ask to chase 288 but to get within 33 was a good effort from the girls. It was a decent deck and the outfield was quick so we knew we’d get value for our runs.
“Adams batted particularly well. Once she got to a hundred she got a license to do what she wanted and played with the field.
“She made it difficult for our bowlers and outfielders.
“I wasn’t concerned about the rate going up and I thought if we could keep it below eights then we had a chance.
“Nat batted beautifully. She’s an exciting player and hits the ball nice and hard. Hopefully there is more to come from here.
“I am lucky to be on a good run of form and hoping that continues to the last game. I’m happy I am contributing to this team; it is what I’ve been talking about in terms of leading.
“I don’t see the last game as a dead rubber [on Saturday against Sunrisers]. We can’t qualify now – which is disappointing because we are used to being successful at Storm – but there is an opportunity for the young girls in the squad to see what they can do and the ones who have been playing for one more chance this season.”
Before that, Luff fashioned a brilliant century to guide Storm to a comfortable seven wicket victory over South East Stars on Friday. Chasing a target of 213, Luff topscored with an unbeaten 104, shared in a match-winning stand of 162 with Georgia Hennessy for the wicket to cruise to victory with 23 balls to spare. It was Luff’s first hundred for Storm.
Box closed the gap on Wiltshire Cricket League Division 26 leaders Winsley, after they were beaten by bottom side Trowbridge 2nd, following a comfortable 96-run over Keevil.
An opening 83 from Julian Mitchell was able supported by Sam Plowright (25), Stephen Hall (27), Dave Crawford (20), Stuart Nelson (32) and K Evans (24*) as Box ended their innings with a comprehensive 248, bowled out with five balls to spare.
Keevil were always likely to struggle with the run rate and the Box bowlers did well to share the wickets and dismiss Keevil for 152 inside 38 overs. Jordan Welsby (2-13), Jonny Pegler (2-18), Dave Crawford (2-28), Hall (2-44) and Luke Rich (2-18) all chimed in to move Box to within eight points of the leaders before their big showdown on Saturday in the penultimate league fixture.
Corsham 2nd remain on the coattails of the leaders in Division 46 after their 11-run victory over Melksham which sees them jointthird with Chippenham 3rd and 12 and 13 points behind the front two. Simon Crampton (60) and Ben Da
Costa (53) put on a good secondwicket partnership which was aided by 43 from Craig Chaplin at seven as Corsham posted 259-6 off their overs.
An unbeaten 134 from Joe Veacock really put the cat amongst the pigeons for Corsham, but they managed to see the game out, with only two others making double figures, as Melksham finished their overs just short on 248-7. Craig Chaplin took three wickets, with Melissa Story claiming two alongside a caught and bowled from Lily Day.
Bathford could still potentially take second in Division 66 but suffered a disappointing eight wicket loss at Lacock to all but end their hopes of the title, falling 27 points behind the leaders. Bathford batted through their innings but, after a good opening partnership between Adam Brunton (43) and Nick Marshall (49), only Thomas Walker (20) and J Wright (24) made it to 20 as Bathford finished on 168-9.
Lacock largely cruised to victory as only Peter Coombs (1-34) and Jujhar Garcia (1-19) could take any wickets, and the hosts reached their target in the 36th over.