Trott record helps Bears to win

TWENTY20 CUP MID/WEST/WALES DIVISION, Edgbaston:
Warwickshire 193-6 beat Somerset 192-7 by one run (Warwicks 2pts)

Warwickshire v Somerset scorecard

Jonathan Trott is among the top 10 run scorers in world Twenty20 cricket

Jonathan Trott became the highest scorer in a Twenty20 Cup season as Warwickshire wrecked Somerset's hopes of winning their group at Edgbaston.

The 28-year-old opener made 38 to reach 469 runs from 10 innings in 2009 and surpass the record of 464 set by Somerset captain Justin Langer in 2006.

Trott was outscored on the day by Jim Troughton (62) and Rikki Clarke (51 not out) as Warwickshire amassed 193-6.

Somerset just failed to get the win needed to top the Division on 192-7.

Somerset were given a flying start by Langer (33) and Marcus Trescothick (39) but were unable to score the necessary seven runs in a brilliant final over by bowler Jeetan Patel.

The New Zealand off-spinner, who had earlier pegged back Somerset by dismissing Zander de Bruyn and James Hildreth, conceded just five singles and claimed the key wicket of Craig Kieswetter.

TROTTY'S TWENTY20 IN 2009

16 v Northants (Wantage Road, 25 July)

42 v Somerset (Taunton, 27 May)

53no v Worcestershire (Edgbaston, 29 May)

55 v Glamorgan (Sophia Gardens, 30 May)

44 v Northants (Edgbaston, 1 June)

29 v Gloucestershire (Edgbaston, 4 June)

73no v Gloucestershire (Nevil Road, 22 June)

33 v Glamorgan (Edgbaston, 23 June)

86no v Worcestershire (New Road, 26 June)

38 v Somerset (Edgbaston, 28 June)

Wicketkeeper Kieswetter took Somerset to the brink of victory with 39 from 25 balls until he drove a catch back to the bowler, and Ben Phillips and Arul Suppiah could only scramble one off the last delivery before the inevitable run out in going for a suicidal second.

Earlier, Somerset's new-ball pair, Charl Willoughby and Phillips, took a pounding when Warwickshire lost only one wicket - Neil Carter caught at long on - when galloping to 66 in the first six overs.

Only a superb return by Suppiah halted Trott's charge when he chanced a second run to mid-wicket but Warwickshire still went past 100 from 57 balls as Troughton moved towards the highest of his four Twenty20 half-centuries this season.

The left-hander hit nine fours and a six before holing out at mid-wicket as Alfonso Thomas recovered from an expensive first over and posted a return of 2-33.

Off-spinner Omari Banks also applied the brakes in a spell of 1-26. But Clarke, on 27, made Somerset pay for a missed chance at long on, the all-rounder completing his half-century with six fours and a six from 30 balls.

BBC WM's Mike Taylor offers his Bears verdict:

"Although this result didn't have a great deal of significance to the competition - Warwickshire and Somerset were both through anyway, and the possibility of a home draw was not in the Bears' own hands - it did at least prove that Warwickshire can win batting first rather than second.

"Warwickshire have made little attempt to hide their preference for batting second, almost regardless of the conditions, and with Jonathan Trott in such superb form at the top of the order able to control the pace, they have chased targets with some skill. All their previous six wins in the group were made batting second.

"Now, asked to bat first, Trott showed more aggression (and fed hungrily on some ill-disciplined bowling) and others kept the pace high after he was needlessly run out.

"His performances, and other batting contributions such as Jim Troughton's four 50s, have attracted much of the attention around Warwickshire's Twenty20 revival. But the bowlers deserve an equal share of the praise for their qualification.

"Although several will be sore after rough treatment from Marcus Trescothick and Justin Langer in particular, over the 10 games a bowling attack that was widely considered at the start of the competition to be too weak and inexperienced to succeed held up remarkably well.

"Jeetan Patel's final over was clever - and Neil Carter showed nerve in the 19th to concede only five runs when the game seemed lost.

"Warwickshire would obviously have preferred to be at home in the last eight - but after losing their first two group games they would be happy enough to be in the draw at all.

"One more win would bring them back home for finals day, and the continuous applause that set a perfect backdrop for Patel's final over today ought to offer them a taster of the ferocious backing they could expect on that finals day in front of their own supporters."