Somerset secured their place in a home quarter-final of the Vitality Blast with a resilient five-wicket victory over the Kent Spitfires at Canterbury.
Choosing to bowl first, Somerset’s strategy paid off immediately as Craig Overton dismissed Tawanda Muyeye with the very first ball of the night. Riley Meredith then impressed, claiming three wickets for just 19 runs, restricting Kent to a modest total of 137 for 8 from their 20 overs. Joe Denly was the top scorer for Kent with 40 runs.
Kent’s innings was disrupted further when Tom Banton suffered a hand injury, forcing Tom Kohler-Cadmore to step in as wicketkeeper. Despite Somerset holding the upper hand, a 23-minute delay due to intense sunlight slowed proceedings. By the 16th over, Kent had reached 109 for 6, but the eventual total appeared below par.
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The Somerset chase proved tougher than anticipated. Early wickets fell with Kohler-Cadmore out for two, Goldsworthy caught for 14, and Will Smeed run out for 36 in an attempted risky run. At the halfway mark, Somerset stood at 62 for 3, trailing on the DLS method due to the earlier interruption.
Despite the pressure, Tom Abell and Lewis Gregory steadied the innings with solid, sensible batting. Gregory top-scored with 37 before being bowled in the 18th over. With just eight runs needed, Green hit a four off a full toss and cleverly ran a single to secure the win with nine balls to spare. Abell remained not out on 34, guiding Somerset to victory.
This win keeps Somerset atop the South Group standings, boasting ten wins from twelve matches, and guarantees them a home quarter-final. A win against Surrey this Sunday would confirm them as group leaders.