Cricket

Gloucestershire emerged victorious in a thrilling Vitality Blast South Group encounter against arch-rivals Somerset at Taunton, chasing down a target of 195 with just one ball to spare.The visitors' pursuit was spearheaded by Miles Hammond's 42 and Beau Webster's 39, while Ben Charlesworth's unbeaten 24 off 13 balls proved crucial in the closing stages. Somerset had earlier posted 194 for six, with Tom Banton's 77* and Tom Green's 47 providing the impetus.Somerset's innings got off to a solid start, reaching 58 for two in the powerplay. However, Gloucestershire's bowlers kept the pressure on, with Marchant de Lange's sharp spell proving particularly effective. The home side found themselves struggling at 148 for five at the end of the 18th over, but Green's late onslaught, including 16 runs off the final four balls of the innings, gave them a competitive total.Gloucestershire's reply began with a setback as Cameron Bancroft fell cheaply. However, James Bracey and Hammond quickly put the visitors in control, adding 66 for the second wicket. Hammond's dismissal triggered a mini-collapse, with Bracey and Jack Taylor following in quick succession.Webster and Taylor then steadied the ship, putting on 65 for the fourth wicket. Taylor's departure left Gloucestershire needing 44 from 27 balls, but Webster and Price kept the scoreboard ticking over. With Meredith unable to bowl his final two overs due to a back spasm, it fell to Green to defend 21 off the last two overs.Charlesworth smashed a six off the penultimate ball to seal a remarkable victory for Gloucestershire. The result leaves Somerset winless after two matches in the Vitality Blast, while Gloucestershire move up to second place in the South Group.

Somerset's Tom Abell orchestrated a remarkable run chase to guide his team to a thrilling five-wicket victory over Warwickshire in a captivating Vitality County Championship Division One encounter at Taunton.Chasing a daunting target of 410, Somerset's openers, Andy Umeed and Tom Kohler-Cadmore, provided a solid start. However, Umeed's dismissal for 30 triggered a mini-collapse, with Kohler-Cadmore (49) and Tom Lammonby (26) also falling.Undeterred, Abell and Tom Banton steadied the ship, forging a crucial 100-run partnership. Abell played with composure and determination, reaching his half-century off 92 balls. Banton, too, showed maturity, curbing his natural aggression to contribute 81.With the century stand broken, Somerset lost Banton and Migael Pretorius in quick succession. However, James Rew, who had struggled for form this season, stepped up with a crucial 57 not out.Abell, meanwhile, continued to anchor the innings, reaching his 150 off 207 balls. His chanceless knock included 14 fours and two sixes.As the tension mounted, Warwickshire delayed taking the new ball, hoping to make it harder for Somerset to score boundaries. However, Rew and Abell seized the opportunity, hitting a flurry of boundaries to seal the victory with 4.2 overs to spare.Somerset's triumph was their second-highest successful fourth innings run chase in their history. They earned 20 points from the game, moving up to second in the Division One table. Warwickshire, on the other hand, had to settle for seven points.

Somerset's Tom Banton and Tom Abell rescued their team from a precarious position on the second day of their Vitality County Championship Division One match against Warwickshire at Taunton.Trailing by 355 runs after Warwickshire's first innings total of 412, Somerset found themselves in trouble at 57 for three. However, Banton and Abell combined for a patient and resilient partnership of 139, giving Somerset a glimmer of hope.Banton, who faced 143 balls, struck 77 runs, including five fours and a six. Abell, who remained unbeaten on 61, played a more cautious role, providing stability to the innings.Warwickshire's bowlers struggled to make inroads on a pitch that offered little assistance. Oliver Hannon-Dalby eventually broke the partnership, dismissing Banton with a delivery that found the outside edge of his bat.Hannon-Dalby then struck twice more in quick succession, removing nightwatchmen Josh Davey and Jack Leach, to leave Somerset on 208 for six at stumps.Earlier, Warwickshire had extended their overnight score from 373 for eight to 412 all out. Michael Burgess, who resumed on 147, fell for 147, while Migael Pretorius added the wicket of Michael Booth to his four first-day victims to finish with figures of five for 104.Somerset now trail by 204 runs and will need to bat with determination and resilience on the third day to avoid the prospect of being asked to follow on.

Warwickshire's Michael Burgess played a pivotal role in his team's spirited fightback against Somerset on the opening day of their Vitality County Championship Division One clash at Taunton.Burgess, batting at number eight, crafted an unbeaten 126 off 167 deliveries, adorned with 14 boundaries and three towering sixes. His innings provided the backbone for Warwickshire's recovery after they had stumbled to 40 for 4 following Somerset's decision to bowl first.Ed Barnard (92) and skipper Will Rhodes (63) had laid the foundation for Burgess's heroics. The duo shared a crucial 103-run partnership, helping Warwickshire recover from their early setbacks.Chris Woakes contributed a valuable 39 in an eighth-wicket stand of 110 with Burgess, enabling Warwickshire to post a respectable 373 for 8 at the close of play.Migael Pretorius emerged as the standout performer for Somerset's bowling attack, claiming 4 for 72 from 20 overs. However, Warwickshire's batsmen showed resilience and determination throughout the day.Josh Davey initiated the Somerset breakthrough, dismissing Alex Davies for 19 in the fifth over. Pretorius then struck three quick blows, removing Rob Yates (15), Sam Hain (0), and Dan Mousley (0) to leave Warwickshire reeling at 40 for 4.Rhodes and Barnard steadied the ship with a 57-run partnership before lunch. Rhodes went on to reach fifty, but his innings was cut short by Jack Leach, who induced him into a mistimed shot.Barnard remained a steadfast presence, reaching a half-century off 94 balls. He shared a 99-run stand with Burgess before falling to Leach for 92.Burgess continued to impress, reaching his fifty off 87 balls and his century off 146 deliveries. He launched Leach for two sixes over long-on, showcasing his attacking prowess.Woakes provided valuable support, bringing up 300 for Warwickshire with a glorious cover drive. He eventually fell for 39, but Burgess remained unbeaten, ensuring Warwickshire ended the day in a strong position.

Nottinghamshire's second-innings resilience has put Somerset's hopes of a third Vitality County Championship win of the season in jeopardy. After Somerset posted a formidable 470 in their first innings, thanks to Tom Abell's 111 and Migael Pretorius' unbeaten 95, Nottinghamshire responded with a solid 360.In their second innings, Nottinghamshire openers Haseeb Hameed and Ben Slater put on a commanding 172-run partnership, with Hameed falling just nine runs short of a century. Slater remained unbeaten on 70, while nightwatchman Olly Stone provided support.Somerset's bowlers struggled to make inroads, with only Craig Overton breaking through to dismiss Hameed. Dillon Pennington's five-wicket haul in the first innings proved to be his only success in the second, while Calvin Harrison's 39 overs yielded three wickets.Pretorius' aggressive 95 in the first innings had given Somerset a 110-run lead, but Nottinghamshire's second-innings performance has put them in a strong position. With 177 runs on the board for the loss of just one wicket, Nottinghamshire need only draw the match to secure a share of the points.Somerset, on the other hand, face an uphill battle to force a result. They will need to bowl Nottinghamshire out for a second time on a pitch that is becoming increasingly docile. The lack of wickets in the final session of day three suggests that Somerset's task will be a difficult one.

Somerset's Tom Abell led a spirited response on day two of the Vitality County Championship match against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge. Abell's century and partnerships with Tom Lammonby and James Rew helped Somerset reach 293 for 4, trailing Nottinghamshire's 360 by 67 runs.Abell, who relinquished the Somerset captaincy last year, scored his first hundred since then. He shared a 157-run partnership with Lammonby (87) and an unbroken 67-run stand with Rew.Nottinghamshire had extended their first innings by nine overs, picking up a third batting point before Somerset's bowlers dismissed the last two wickets. Migael Pretorious and Kasey Aldridge finished with four and five wickets, respectively.Olly Stone, who played a key role in Nottinghamshire's recovery on day one, fell for 83. Aldridge completed his five-for when Dane Paterson was caught on the extra cover boundary.Somerset's reply began with an early wicket as Andy Umeed departed in the sixth over. Tom Kohler-Cadmore made 38 before falling to a superb catch by Tom Moores.Lammonby and Abell then built a solid partnership, adding 105 runs in the afternoon session. Lammonby reached his half-century from 104 balls, while Abell completed his from 101 balls.Lammonby was eventually dismissed leg before by Paterson, breaking the partnership after 48 overs. Tom Banton was caught behind soon after, but Abell remained unbeaten on 105, hitting 12 fours in his 202-ball innings.The second new ball raised Nottinghamshire's hopes, but Abell turned the pace to his advantage, hitting two boundaries to complete his century.

Nottinghamshire's resilience was on full display at Trent Bridge as they rallied from a precarious position to post a competitive 326 for 8 on day one of their Vitality County Championship clash against Somerset.Fast bowler Olly Stone, who has emerged as an unlikely batting force, led the charge with an unbeaten 74. His eighth-wicket partnership of 112 with Calvin Harrison (35) transformed the innings after Nottinghamshire had slumped to 190 for 7.Earlier, Joe Clarke (51) and Jack Haynes (55) had provided a solid foundation with a 108-run stand for the fourth wicket. However, Somerset's seamers, led by Kasey Aldridge (4-90), struck back to claim four wickets for 11 runs.Aldridge, returning to the Somerset side after an injury, made an immediate impact, dismissing Haseeb Hameed with an inswinger. He also accounted for Will Young and Tom Moores, while South African seamer Migael Pretorius took three for 73.Despite the setbacks, Stone and Harrison refused to be deterred. Stone, who had scored 90 against Lancashire last month, showcased his batting prowess once again. He struck eight fours and a six, guiding Nottinghamshire towards a respectable total.The Somerset attack, which had initially looked threatening, lost their way after lunch. Overton and Jake Ball offered width, allowing Clarke and Haynes to score freely. However, Aldridge's double strike and Pretorius' dismissal of Haynes swung the momentum back in Somerset's favor.Stone's resilience and Harrison's support ensured that Nottinghamshire ended the day on a positive note. They will resume on day two with a solid platform to build upon, while Somerset will need to find a way to break through the Stone-Harrison partnership.

Gloucestershire's young guns, Oliver Price and Ben Charlesworth, orchestrated a thrilling five-wicket triumph over arch-rivals Somerset in a Vitality Blast derby encounter at the Seat Unique Stadium in Bristol.Somerset, the defending champions, posted a formidable 188 for 4 after losing the toss, thanks to a high-octane 79 from Tom Banton. Banton dominated crucial partnerships with Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Tom Abell, smashing eight fours and three sixes.Gloucestershire's chase got off to a solid start with Miles Hammond crashing three boundaries in the third over. However, Riley Meredith's yorker dismissed Cameron Bancroft, and Roelof van der Merwe bowled Hammond for 39.With rain threatening, Gloucestershire needed to keep up with the required rate. James Bracey and Charlesworth staged a 41-run stand, but Somerset's spinners, van der Merwe and Jack Leach, struck back to leave Gloucestershire reeling at 106 for 4.Enter Price and Charlesworth. The young duo unleashed a blistering unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 82 in just 32 balls. Price top-scored with 43 from 15 deliveries, including four sixes and three fours, while Charlesworth contributed a 19-ball 36 with two sixes and four fours.Their aggressive hitting propelled Gloucestershire to victory with eight balls to spare, sending a sell-out crowd of 7,000 into raptures. The win improved Gloucestershire's prospects of reaching the knockout stages, while Somerset missed out on a chance to take over leadership of the South Group.

Somerset's Will Smeed unleashed a blistering 86 off 48 balls, propelling his team to a commanding 108-run victory over Glamorgan in the Vitality Blast South Group encounter at Taunton.Smeed's innings was a whirlwind of aggression, featuring nine boundaries and five towering sixes. He dominated the Somerset innings, forming a 54-run partnership with Tom Kohler-Cadmore and a 50-run stand with Roelof van der Merwe.Glamorgan's bowlers struggled to contain Smeed's onslaught, with Dan Douthwaite claiming three wickets in an over to finish with impressive figures of 4 for 37. However, Smeed's dismissal in the 12th over triggered a collapse, with Somerset losing four wickets in seven balls.Craig Overton (42) and van der Merwe (20*) steadied the ship, guiding Somerset to a respectable total of 193 for 8.In reply, Glamorgan's batting faltered miserably. Sam Northeast's 24 was the highest score as Somerset's bowlers ran riot. Lewis Gregory claimed 3 for 11, equaling Max Waller's record of 139 T20 wickets for the county.Van der Merwe wrapped up the innings with two wickets in two balls, dismissing Chris Cooke and Andy Gorvin to seal a comprehensive victory for Somerset.