Somerset 2nd XI v Birmingham Bears 2nd XI, Second XI T20 Semi-Final, Arundel

Somerset 2nd XI 151-7 20 overs

Birmingham Bears 2nd XI 94 18.2 overs

Somerset won the toss in the 2nd XI T20 semi-final at Arundel and decided to bat, losing wickets to consecutive deliveries from Hannon-Dalby’s second over with just eleven runs on the board.

Thornton then dismissed Bartlett and Leask while Singh brought Davey’s innings to a close with Somerset 44-5 in the eighth over.

Wicket keeper and former Bears’ player Banton 80 with skipper Waller 26* then added 102 for the sixth wicket helping Somerset close on 151-7 with Hannon-Dalby 4-20 the Bears’ best bowler with Thornton taking 2-42

In reply Pollock was out without scoring in Leask’s first over and despite Evans making 35 from 30 balls, only Thomason 10 and Panayi 14 managed to reach double figures as the innings fell away to just 94 all out with ten balls remaining.

Grant 3-4 and Waller 3-12 were the pick of Somerset’s attack as the Bears’ campaign came to a disappointing end after qualifying for the first time in the 2nd  XI competition Finals Day.

In the first semi-final, Middlesex 199-5 defeated Durham 191-6 by 8 runs before completing a 2 wicket victory in the Final against Somerset who earlier had made 161-7. Middlesex victory was achieved with just one delivery to spare.