Sabres cut down Foxes in NUL

Sensible batting from Keith Parsons and Mike Burns saw Somerset Sabres to a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Leicestershire Foxes in their Norwich Union League Division One clash at the Bath Recreation Ground.

The Sabres appeared to be wobbling in pursuit of their target of just 148 when they lost their third wicket on 33, with Holloway unlucky to play-on to Matthew Whiley. But an unbroken stand of 115 between Parsons and Burns saw Somerset home with more than 12 overs to spare, and to a first win of the season in this competition.

It was a good all-round performance from Parsons. He may not be the most glamorous cricketer on the circuit, but he wobbled the ball around in helpful conditions and batted with great common sense and more than a little skill to deny the Foxes. He hit two big sixes - one hook off DeFreitas clearing the hospitality tents on its way out of this beautiful ground - and another over long-on off Crowe.

Stand-in captain, Mike Burns, who struck seven fours in his 54, provided solid support.

Leicestershire must be heartily sick of the sight of Parsons. It was his all-round display that was pivotal in Somerset clinching the C&G trophy against the same opposition at the end of last season, and here he settled the hosts' nerves with bat and ball when they had appeared to be under pressure.

Earlier the Sabres had limited the Foxes to a modest looking 147 all out. Only Trevor Ward had flourished on a pitch on which run scoring was never easy, hitting 11 boundaries in his 64-ball stay. But his team-mates could only muster another five between them as the Somerset bowlers made intelligent use of overcast conditions.

Missing captain, Jamie Cox, with a thumb injury, the Sabres were boosted by the return of Richard Johnson and Steffan Jones, giving their attack more of an edge than it had previously possessed.

Johnson struck twice in his opening spell, trapping Iain Sutcliffe and Darren Stevens leg before, after Foxes' skipper, Vince Wells, had won the toss and elected to bat.

But Flower helped Ward add 45 for the fourth wicket, with Ward taking full advantage of Simon Francis' inability to find the correct length, driving him through the covers on several occasions, and pulling fiercely when the bowler over compensated.

At 83-2 the visitors were well placed, but Keith Parsons struck to part the pair before Jones ended Ward's fun, finding a thin edge that was gratefully received by Robbie Turner, standing up to the wicket. None of the other batsmen ever threatened to prosper.

The Sabres fielded well. Dutch took a wonderful diving catch to dismiss the dangerous DeFreitas, while Ian Blackwell clung on to a difficult one on the long-off fence that would otherwise have gone for six.

It was a good win for a Sabres side short of its three best players - Trescothick, Caddick and Cox. They climb level on points with the Foxes and have given themselves a platform on which to build. On this form they may prove a challenge for most teams.