Gloucestershire won the Cider Derby by 25 runs to go second in the Vitality T20 Blast South Group.
Gloucestershire completely dominated the first quarter of the match, reaching 83-0 after 10.
The only times it looked like Somerset would make the breakthrough was a follow through shy at the stumps from Tim Groenewald as Michael Klinger just stepped out of his crease momentarily and a Craig Overton chance at long on off Roelof van der Merwe which Miles Hammond survived.
Hammond’s half century included six fours, coming up off 39 balls, but still Gloucestershire were only 99-0 off 12 overs.
When Hammond was caught in the deep by Babar Azam 105-1 and Max Waller had only gone for 25 off his four overs, Somerset started to realise things weren’t actually that bad in terms of economy and today’s often 200+ par T20 scores.
Van der Merwe’s figures were looking similarly tidy until James Bracey took him for back-to-back sixes in his last – 1-40 he finished with.
Babar’s second catch saw the back of Bracey for 20, Glos 153-2 in the 18th.
Having been the most expensive Somerset bowler all tournament, Tom Abell’s new plan was to only bowl Jerome Taylor (the overseas signing) three overs, but his third was still taken to all parts by Jack Taylor.
Klinger got a little over confident on 74, attempting a reverse pull first ball of the final over, then a couple balls later Gronewald picked up his second, Taylor caught at long on by Craig Overton for 23.
Ian Cockbain finished the innings in style, smiting Groenewald over long on for 6, 189-4 Glos’ slightly below par total with wickets in hand on a baking Bristol evening.
Tom Banton got Somerset off to a typically fast start, but the ball after pulling David Payne for six, a back-pedalling AJ Tye caught him well over his head at mid on. Banton out for 10, 20-1 off 2.3, but then Babar Azam stepped it up.
It was 54-0 at the end of the power play with some seriously silky smooth shots from the classy pair of Babar and Hildreth.
Somerset were well above the rate, but when Babar Azam was stumped and then Hildreth, Craig Overton and Tom Abell were dismissed in quick succession, the game took a massive twist in favour of the home side. 110-6 after 13.3 and suddenly Gloucestershire were favourites again.
Tom Lammomby and van der Merwe brought Somerset back into the game but when the latter holed out to long on for 17 and the Exeter all rounder played on in the penultimate over, Somerset’s hopes lay with Jerome Taylor and Tim Groenewald to score at over a 200 strike rate for the final 10 balls.
Unsurprisingly this didn’t happen, Gloucestershire moving up to second with the win.
