Somerset beat Yorkshire in close encounter

Ian Blackwell - took Somerset to victory from brink of defeat Photo © Stu Forster, AllSport

Somerset's close two-wicket win over Yorkshire at Scarborough took them closer to Worcestershire at the top of the First Division of the National League. Some five thousand spectators saw Somerset, set to score just 142 for victory on a pitch which did not favour batting, collapse to 74-7 in the 27th over.

From that point, however, Ian Blackwell struck back strongly by hitting 50 n.o. from 41 deliveries. His partner Michael Burns (26) was out at 107, but Blackwell pressed the attack by hitting slow left-armer Darren Lehmann for six. With Graham Rose he chiselled away at the margin and ended the match by striking Paul Hutchison which raised his fifty and won the match.

Somerset's poor early batting had been brought about by fast bowlers Matthew Hoggard and Chris Silverwood supported by the catches of Richard Blakey at the wicket. Winning the toss Yorkshire were bowled out for 141: Steffan Jones took 4-33 to raise his season's National League aggregate to 21 wickets. Paul Jarvis (3-23), Marcus Trescothick and Blackwell gave him accurate support. Blakey (33) was the hosts' top-scorer but he hit only two fours in 75 balls. Ian Fisher was more adventurous with 20 from 29 deliveries and then took 3-20.