Somerset victorious in rain-shortened contest

SOMERSET moved one step closer to qualification for the Vitality Blast quarter-finals with a 16-run win over Glamorgan in Cardiff on Friday night, writes Peter Miller.

Persistent rain reduced the match to a seven-over contest with the visitors put into bat.

Early wickets pegged them back, but some powerful blows from Tom Abell and Ben Green took Somerset to 75 for six.

As was the case in the Somerset innings, Glamorgan suffered early losses as they got the chase under way. However, unlike Somerset they did not have the acceleration to get them to their target, with Colin Ingram playing a lone hand to finish on 37 not out.

The win takes Somerset to 16 points and, while a quarter-final is not a mathematical certainty, they are extremely well placed.

Green, pictured, told reporters: “It is always difficult when it is a shortened game like that. I think the key with what we did was to try to keep it as simple as possible.

“On the whole, I think we did that really well and it showed with managing to get across the line.

“I wasn’t sure if we had enough runs, but those last two overs were huge in terms of dragging the momentum back to us. It wasn’t pretty, but we squirted a few boundaries.”

■ Gloucestershire’s hopes of a spot in the last eight took a hit as Hampshire made it two wins in the West Country in two days.

Having beaten Somerset on Thursday evening, Hampshire followed up on Friday, posting 178 for seven after losing the toss, opener Ben McDermott leading the way with 50, including two sixes and five fours. Ryan Higgins claimed three for 24.

In reply, the hosts slumped to 64 for five before James Bracey (40) and Jack Taylor (37) doubled that total for the sixth wicket and Benny Howell blasted 34 off just 13 balls, including three fours and a couple of maximums as they closed on 169 for seven.

Former Gloucestershire player James Fuller was the pick of an impressive Hawks attack with two for 23 from his four overs as they moved into the top four in the South Group. The Glo’sters are currently lying fifth.