Myburgh shows it's not all about Gayle
Somerset won a thrilling T20 Blast game for the second time at Taunton this season and in doing so sent Surrey tumbling to their second defeat of the campaign
ECB Reporters Network
10-Jun-2016
Somerset 189 for 4 (Myburgh 86*) beat Surrey 186 for 4 (Sibley 74*) by six wickets
Scorecard
Scorecard
Somerset won a thrilling T20 Blast game for the second time at Taunton this season and in doing so sent Surrey tumbling to their second defeat of the campaign.
Although Chris Gayle provided one or two fireworks during his 13-ball cameo at the top end of the innings, it was Johann Myburgh and Roelof van der Merwe who led the way as Somerset overhauled Surrey's 186 for 4 with four balls to spare.
Having won the toss, Surrey lost their first wicket in the fifth over when Jason Roy, who was dropped on 10 by Jamie Overton off the bowling of brother Craig, was caught by van der Merwe off Craig Overton for 28.
Somerset's fielding was certainly not up to scratch and both Kumar Sangakkara and Dominic Sibley benefitted before the former well caught by Gayle, at extra cover, off Yasir Arafat for 37 off 19 balls. The Sri Lankan struck seven boundaries in his short stay at the crease and was understandably miffed when Gayle stuck out a hand and held on to a smart catch.
In the very next over, Rory Burns departed for a single, caught by Craig Overton at deep midwicket at 96 for 3. At that stage, Surrey needed a partnership of real substance. Thanks to Sibley and Dwayne Bravo they got it.
The pair added 69 off 42 balls with Bravo helping himself to 15 before van der Merwe held on to a wonderful catch on the deep midwicket boundary.
Sibley continued to lead the way for Surrey and though Somerset bowled well at the death, the 20-year-old bolstered the visitors' total to 186 for 4 with an unbeaten 74 off 55 balls. The youngster, who hurt his back in trying to hit Jamie Overton out of the ground, struck six fours and three sixes.
Somerset's reply was only eight balls old when captain Jim Allenby top edged a Ravi Rampaul delivery to wicketkeeper Ben Foakes, at 10 for 1.
Normal order was restored, for the Somerset supporters, off the final three balls of Rampaul's first over. Gayle, looking to improve on the 49 he scored against Essex at the ground seven days previous, struck all three deliveries for six.
Another six, off Tom Curran, followed before the West Indian star was caught by countryman Bravo on the square leg boundary for 31 at 37 for 2. Bravo was celebrating again three balls later when Peter Trego gloved a short ball to Foakes, for 2, at 39 for 3.
With two of the big hitters having departed, it was left to Myburgh and Gregory to pick up the pieces. Myburgh, who batted so well against Gloucestershire in the Royal London Cup last Sunday, struck successive sixes off Tom Curran to help Somerset to 57 for 3 after five overs.
Myburgh, who continued to punish anything over-pitched, took his side to 100 in the 10th over, but lost fourth wicket partner Gregory at 102, caught by Foakes off Sam Curran for 21.
The disappointment was only temporary as Myburgh brought up his 50 off 28 balls in the 12th over and laid the platform for Somerset's second victory of the season.
Myburgh and van der Merwe put on an unbeaten 87 for the fifth wicket with the former finishing 86 not out and van der Merwe unbeaten on 39.