Cricket

Somerset's Sean Dickson and James Rew produced a stunning partnership to guide their team to a six-wicket victory over Surrey in the T20 Blast Finals Day semi-final. The duo's 144-run stand from 98 balls propelled Somerset to a comfortable chase of Surrey's 153/9.Surrey, missing four first-choice players due to England call-ups, struggled to find fluency after being inserted. Lewis Gregory's 3/15 and Josh Davey's 3/34 restricted Surrey's total.Somerset's chase got off to a disastrous start as Dan Worrall and Tom Curran removed the top three batters within the first 13 balls. However, Dickson and Rew turned the tide with their record-breaking partnership.Dickson, who had been Somerset's top scorer in both their low-scoring victories at Finals Day in 2023, once again rose to the occasion. He struck 78 off 57 balls, including six fours and three sixes. Rew, playing his first game of the season, contributed an unbeaten 62 off 44 balls, hitting five fours and two sixes.Surrey's batting effort had been stuttering, with only Dominic Sibley (48) offering significant resistance. Gregory's three wickets and Davey's three-for helped Somerset restrict Surrey to a below-par total.Somerset's victory sets up a tantalizing final against Lancashire, who defeated Hampshire in the other semi-final. The defending champions will be aiming to become the first team to retain the T20 Blast title.

Somerset's Tom Abell and Sean Dickson orchestrated a remarkable fourth-wicket partnership to propel their team to a resounding 63-run victory over Hampshire Hawks in the Vitality Blast.Abell's unbeaten 96 off 47 deliveries and Dickson's 65 off 32 formed the backbone of Somerset's imposing 241 for 5, their third-highest Blast total. The duo's 144-run stand in just 11.2 overs shattered Somerset's previous record for the fourth wicket in the competition.Despite losing three wickets in the powerplay, Somerset's momentum remained unyielding. Abell and Dickson seized control, taking the score past 100 in the 11th over. Abell's first six brought up the 50-stand, and the pair reached their century partnership in a mere 18 deliveries.James Fuller's 13th over proved costly, with Abell smashing three consecutive fours and Dickson adding two more boundaries. Both players reached their half-centuries in the 15th over, with Dickson's coming off 25 balls and Abell's off 30.Dickson's six over backward point off John Turner marked the end of his innings, but Lewis Gregory's 18 off 8 balls and Abell's majestic straight six off Turner propelled Somerset to their highest-ever Blast total against Hampshire.Hampshire's reply began promisingly, with Ben McDermott and James Vince reaching 50 in just 4.4 overs. However, Ben Green's breakthrough bowling McDermott and Vince in the eighth over shifted the momentum.Green's medium pace proved devastating, claiming Joe Weatherley's wicket in the 11th over. James Fuller's six off Josh Davey was short-lived, as he perished attempting a repeat. Toby Albert and Howell's dismissals in the same Riley Meredith over sealed Hampshire's fate.Green's two wickets in the final overs completed a dominant performance for Somerset, who returned to winning ways after successive defeats.

Somerset's Craig Overton made a triumphant return to form and fitness, leading the charge as his team bowled out Nottinghamshire for 193 on the opening day of their Vitality County Championship First Division clash at Taunton.Overton, who underwent back surgery during the winter, claimed 3 for 57 from 18 impressive overs, helping Somerset secure maximum bowling points after losing the toss. Only Matt Montgomery (48) and Joe Clarke (39) offered significant resistance for Nottinghamshire on a blustery day.Lewis Gregory and Migael Pretorius also contributed with two wickets each. By the close, Somerset had replied with 116 for 1, thanks to an opening stand of 111 between Sean Dickson (70 not out) and Matt Renshaw (34).The match began with a bizarre innings from Haseeb Hameed, who aimed an extravagant cover drive at the first ball but missed, left the second, and then dragged the third delivery onto his stumps with a repeat of his first shot.Ben Slater and Will Young were more cautious, taking the total to 49 before Overton deservedly claimed his first wicket, dismissing Slater for 25. Gregory then struck twice in the morning session, removing Young for 27 and Clarke for 39.Montgomery and Clarke steadied the Notts innings, but their partnership was broken when Clarke was caught at mid-wicket off Shoaib Bashir. Wickets fell steadily thereafter, with Jack Haynes, Montgomery, Calvin Harrison, Lyndon James, and Brett Hutton all departing.Pretorius picked up two wickets, while Overton returned to claim his third. Nottinghamshire were bowled out for 193 inside 63 overs.In reply, Somerset's openers Dickson and Renshaw put on a century stand, compiling 111 runs in 28.2 overs. Dickson led the way with some sweetly-timed shots, reaching his first Championship half-century at the Cooper Associates County Ground off 68 balls.Renshaw played a supporting role until edging a delivery to slip, but Somerset ended the day in a strong position, trailing by just 77 runs with nine wickets in hand.