Kieswetter sparks big-hitting Somerset

Somerset 235 for 5 beat Middlesex 195 for 9 by 40 runs
Scorecard

Somerset posted a mammoth 235 for 5 on their way to a 40-run victory over Middlesex in the Friends Life t20 at Taunton. The hosts scored at nearly two-a-ball to post the fourth highest total by any county in the short history of the format, led by the returning Craig Kieswetter, who scored 59 in 22 balls.

Gemaal Hussain and Lewis Gregory then took three wickets apiece as Middlesex could only reach 195 for 9, meaning John Simpson's 60 off 27 was in vain.

Having missed his county's opening two matches in the competition through injury, Kieswetter wasted little time getting started after Somerset were put in, lofting his first ball to the mid-off boundary. The fifth ball Kieswetter hit high over cover, where Steven Crook caught the ball but stepped over the boundary, giving the wicketkeeper six.

In the third over, bowled by Ryan McLaren, Kieswetter hit three fours and a six to bring up Somerset's 50. Trescothick hoisted Crook into the Somerset Stand, but next ball was caught at midwicket for 20 by James Dalrymple.

Kieswetter went to his half century off 18 balls but was bowled by Crook soon after as he looked to flick the ball away. New batsman Roelof van der Merwe smashed Tom Smith for six and four to bring up the 100.

The South African then took three sixes off Dalrymple, as the score moved onto 139 after 10 overs. Van der Merwe brought up the 150 with a four to midwicket and he went to his half century soon after but was caught by McLaren off Anthony Ireland for 51 after a stand of 81 with Peter Trego, who was run out for 31 in the next over.

An unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 54 from James Hildreth (35no) and Arul Suppiah kept the runs flowing for Somerset.

In reply, Paul Stirling claimed two sixes off Steve Kirby as he hit 34 in 14 before falling to Hussain, who had also removed Chris Rogers. Scott Newman top edged Lewis Gregory to Kieswetter and bowled Dalrymple first ball to reduce the visitors to 50 for 4 after five.

Murali Kartik and Van der Merwe kept things tight, the former having McLaren caught by Van der Merwe at long off, then having Dexter stumped by Kieswetter off a wide for 35. Hussain claimed his third victim when he bowled Crook in the 16th over, leaving Middlesex 139 for 7.

Simpson led a late rearguard action and brought up his 50 with a boundary off Trego, reaching the milestone in 22 balls. Simpson was dropped twice in the next over but it mattered little as wickets continued to fall at the other end.