Jack Taylor surprises Somerset

Jack Taylor marked his Friends Life t20 debut with 4 for 16 as Gloucestershire upset the form book with a two-wicket win over Somerset at Bristol. Taylor, the 19-year-old off-spinner, included big-hitting West Indian Kieron Pollard among his victims as the visitors were restricted to 121 for 9 after winning the toss.

Marcus Trescothick top scored with 28, while David Payne took 2 for 4. In reply, the Gladiators made 124 for eight, Taylor again the hero with 38. Lewis Gregory took 4 four for 15 as Somerset defended their modest total with everything they had.

It was Taylor's night. By the time he was run out having guided Gloucestershire from a perilous 75 for five, only 12 runs were needed. Even then the game was only settled in the penultimate over when Muttiah Muralitharan hit Steve Kirby for two followed by an edged four, leaving only four to get off the last over.

Pollard should have run out Richard Coughtrie with the second ball, but missed all three stumps from 10 yards following through after bowling. His next delivery was a full toss which was deposited over mid-off by Coughtrie for the winning runs.

Ian Cockbain (19) and Chris Taylor (18) made important contributions for the Gladiators after they had slipped to 18 for 3 .

Earlier, it was Payne who had put Somerset under pressure by dismissing openers Peter Trego and Trescothick as they made 43 for 2 off the six overs of powerplay.

Muralitharan helped tie down the middle order with 1 for 20 from his four overs, but had to play second fiddle to Taylor, who had James Hildreth caught at deep midwicket sweeping, yorked Pollard for 15 and also sent back Jos Buttler and Gregory.

Arul Suppiah did his best to boost Somerset's total with 23, but could take few chances and fell in the final over. Their total looked below par, but a low-scoring game ultimately provided a thrilling finish for a large crowd.

Somerset could have gone top of the South Group had they won, while victory for the Gladiators kept alive their slim chances of reaching the quarter-finals.