Somerset keep semi-final hopes alive

Somerset defeated Scotland by 53 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis system after rain affected their Clydesdale Bank 40 fixture.

Scotland won the toss and decided to bat first but were bowled out for 163 and were indebted to Preston Mommsen's 67 to even take them that far. Rain ended the match after 22.4 overs of the Somerset reply, with their total of 133 for 3 - built around Arul Suppiah's half-century - far in excess of the revised target of 81.

It was Somerset's sixth CB40 victory in a row and maintains their hopes of a semi-final berth which seemed unlikely after they opened their campaign with four straight defeats followed by a no result.

Scotland were dealt an early blow when opening batsman Ryan Flannigan was dismissed for just eight after offering a return catch to Peter Trego, leaving the hosts at 22 for 1. Calum MacLeod was bowled for 14 by Steve Kirby with no addition to the score and debutant Robert Mutch then took the wickets of Richie Berrington and Jean Symes to put Somerset in a commanding position.

Mommsen added some resistance to the innings with a gutsy score of 67 but was fast running out of partners as the middle order began to crumble, with Ewan Chalmers falling for four and Craig Wallace trapped lbw for a duck off the bowling of Abdur Rehman.

Somerset quickly worked their way through the tail, although Safyaan Sherif added a score of 20 and Mommsen was the last wicket to fall. Kirby finished with two for 22 and Mutch began his Somerset career with 2 for 46.

Despite losing opener Trego for 15 Somerset made a solid start to their run chase. Chris Jones was next to fall for 24 as Mommsen took the catch from Majid Haq's bowling, but by that stage Somerset were 90 for two after a stand of 71 between Jones and Suppiah.

The latter made 56 from just 45 balls, with seven fours and a six, to steer his side towards the victory target before his was the last Somerset wicket to fall when he was bowled by Haq.

Jos Buttler hit five fours and a six to score a rapid 29 not out while James Hildreth was also still at the crease on nine not out when the heavens opened and Somerset were declared the victors.