It
feels like longer but it was only five days ago when a five-wicket victory over
bottom club Surrey secured Somerset’s passage from the South division to the
quarter-finals on net run rate ahead of Gloucestershire. On the same day,
Middlesex also joined Hampshire in the knockouts breaking records in the
process. Their 380-5 was their highest ever one-day score and Matt Holden’s 166
was another best for the county.
The
day previously, Nottinghamshire left it late to top the North table. Needing
326 to beat Northamptonshire, they were running out of time and wickets until in
the last over centurion Samit Patel struck Sanderson’s opening three deliveries
for 6-4-4. Worcestershire’s target was an even more challenging 351 but, with
new boy Riki Wessels in typical aggressive mode – eleven sixes in an innings of
130 – they came through wit ten balls to spare. Poor Durham endured disappointment
as the Headingley weather frustrated their efforts and allowed non-playing
Lancashire to qualify instead.
A
few days later Worcestershire found Somerset’s attack a tougher proposition altogether.
20 year-old wicketkeeper Tom Banton’s second ton of the tournament set up a formidable
total of 337-8 and, with Azhar Ali’s leg-spin an unexpected weapon of mass
destruction, the home side was bowled out twelve overs and 147 runs short.
Middlesex also collapsed on home territory. Batting second, they tumbled to 24-5
before James Harris (117) and John Simpson (74) got them back on track against
Lancashire. However, once they were dismissed in the same over, Saqib Mahmood took
his fourth wicket and Graeme Onions finished things off.
This
afternoon, Lancashire’s unwanted reputation as serial semi-final losers was
maintained. Mahmood was again amongst the wickets but Hampshire’s experienced
all-rounder Gareth Berg had earlier claimed 5-24 ripping out the Red Rose tail
and was in the middle when team-mate Fuller struck the winning boundary.
At
Trent Bridge, the other semi-final had long since finished. The highly-fancied
Notts went the same way as Worcestershire as Somerset enjoyed a near-repeat of
their quarter-final victory. Their 337 total was identical, Banton again passed
50 and Azhar Ali made a crucial contribution, this time with the bat. The press
were ready with their Alex Hales headlines but his 54 runs were insufficient to
prevent the Overtons and van der Merwe destroying them. As at Worcester, it was
done and dusted after around 38 overs.
The
final takes place in a few weeks’ time and I for one will be happy to see them
take a little longer as long as Tom Abell holds the trophy aloft at close of
play. Sadly he, or James Vince, will be the last to do so, as in 2020 proper cricket
gets trampled underfoot by the hateful Hundred. As for May 2019, the ‘Years of
Hurt’ tally has risen to eighteen but could cricket finally be coming home to
Somerset?! I hope so.
Team of the
Week: Wessels (Wor), Banton (Som +), Chopra (Ess), Azhar Ali (Som), Holden
(Mid), S Patel (Not), Berg (Ham), Harris (Mid), C Overton (Som), T Taylor
(Lei), Mahmood (Lan)
