BBC SPORT | Cricket | Counties | Somerset win thriller

C&G Trophy semi-final, Taunton: Somerset 344-5 (50 overs) beat Kent 339 all out (49.1 overs) by five runs
Match scorecard
Pictures from Taunton

Somerset earned the chance to defend their C&G Trophy title with a thrilling five-run win over Kent at Taunton.

Chasing a record 345 to win, Kent looked on course for sure victory on 336 for six in the 47th over.

But in a truly remarkable finale the hosts snared four wickets for three runs to win a place in the Lord's final on 31 August against either Surrey or Yorkshire.

Bowl-out looms large

A sell-out crowd of 7,500 watched the memorable encounter, some of which stormed the pitch after Kent failed by just six runs to chase a competition record target.

Keith Parsons continued his fine record in the C&G Trophy with four wickets, but Ian Blackwell starred on a belter of a pitch to hit 86 after Kent won the toss and inserted the hosts.

Parsons stars in C&G quarter-final

A 100-run stand for the first wicket, scored in just 14 overs, between Rob Key (42) and skipper Matthew Fleming (63) paved the way for Kent to chase with confidence.

Matthew Fleming
Fleming played his part with 63 off 48 balls

The loss of three wickets in three overs then reduced the visitors to 122 for three as Somerset stole the ascendancy.

But in a wildly fluctuating contest, a marvellous 55 from Andrew Symonds, scored off 41 deliveries, wrested back the initiative for Kent.

The Australian's abrasive strokeplay - he scored six fours and two sixes - put a spoke in Somerset's charge when a collapse loomed large.

Dave Fulton (48) and Matthew Walker (35) kept the run-rate ticking over with assured knocks and it seemed Kent always had the target in sight.

Even when both fell - both to Parsons in the 38th over - Mark Ealham and Paul Nixon (33) ensured there was no cause for panic with a 74-run stand that guided Kent to within nine runs of victory.

But two needless run-outs - including a superb direct hit from sub Simon Francis, on for pace bowler Richard Johnson, to remove James Golding - swung the balance.

Peter Bowler
Bowler laid a solid foundation for Somerset

Matt Bulbeck bowled David Masters on the last ball of the 49th over to bring last man Martin Saggers to the crease.

There was still hope for Kent with Ealham on strike, but with five balls left he clipped Steffan Jones to Keith Dutch at deep mid-wicket to cap a memorable win for Somerset.

ECB Academy member Blackwell was earlier at his power-packed best in clubbing 86 off just 53 balls.

Opener Peter Bowler belied his advancing years to hit a sprightly 70 and Michael Burns also played well for 72, but the leading light was Blackwell.

Coming to the crease with the score on 150 for two in the 30th over, he turned a promising Somerset innings into a formidable one with an array of uncompromising strokeplay.

Somerset put on 150 in 99 balls with him at the crease, and 54 of the left-hander's runs came from boundaries and a six.

Somerset: P D Bowler, M J Wood, J Cox (Capt), M Burns, I D Blackwell, K A Parsons, R J Turner (Wkt), K P Dutch, R L Johnson, M P L Bulbeck, P S Jones.

Kent: M V Fleming (Capt), R W T Key, J B Hockley, A Symonds, M J Walker, P A Nixon (Wkt), M A Ealham, D P Fulton, J M Golding, D D Masters, M J Saggers.

Umpires: M R Benson and B Dudleston.


	Links to more Counties stories