Nick Compton's century guided Somerset to a four-wicket victory over the
Unicorns in Group C of the Clydesdale Bank 40 at Wormsley.
01-May-2011
Somerset 222 for 6 beat Unicorns 218 for 8 by four wickets Scorecard
Nick Compton's century guided Somerset to a four-wicket victory over the
Unicorns in Group C of the Clydesdale Bank 40 at Wormsley.
Having won the toss and chosen to bat first, the home side posted a competitive
total of 218 despite Ajantha Mendis' three for 32.
Somerset lost early wickets but Compton steadied the ship and Jos Buttler
punched an unbeaten 30 from 23 balls to see them home.
An opening partnership of 78 got the Unicorns' innings off to a perfect start,
Jackson Thompson leading the way with a flurry of boundaries.
But when he was the first man out, trapped lbw by Mendis for 44 - made from 37
balls, with seven fours and a six - it quickly became a double setback.
Wicketkeeper Josh Knappett was the man removed first ball by Mendis, Buttler
taking the catch.
The other opener, Michael Thornely, pressed on to 47 from 51 balls but, having
hit five fours, he offered a return catch to give the Sri Lanka spinner his
third wicket.
Chris Benham and captain Keith Parsons - playing against his former club -
rebuilt with a stand of 42 before the former was caught by Somerset skipper
Marcus Trescothick off Gemaal Hussain.
Parsons reached 41 before giving keeper Craig Kieswetter one of his three
catches and tail-enders Neil Saker and Glen Querl put on 25 in the later stages
to see their side to 218 for eight in their 40 overs.
Saker quickly picked up the key wicket of Trescothick for a third-ball duck and
the latter's opening partner Kieswetter fell to Querl for five, Knappett taking
the catches on both occasions.
But Peter Trego made 21 and Compton and James Hildreth then put on 62 for the
fourth wicket before Hildreth was run out by Querl.
Compton lost Lewis Gregory for 11 but found another willing ally in Buttler in
a sixth-wicket stand of 69.
Compton completed his century from 102 deliveries and swiftly cracked a 10th
four to add to his two sixes, but his vigil was ended with 10 runs required when
Saker found a way through his defences.
Buttler remained to finish the job, though, and Arul Suppiah emerged to
casually hit two of the four balls he faced to the boundary in a cameo of nine
not out.
Saker took an impressive three for 33 and Querl (two for 47) also emerged with
credit, but Somerset always had enough in the tank as they wrapped up the win
with seven balls remaining.