Somerset pinch a point thanks to Turner

Somerset Sabres took 14 runs off Matthew Fleming's final over of the day to snatch a tie in a low-scoring game with Kent Spitfires played out on a difficult Tunbridge Wells pitch.

Batsmen from both sides struggled to score freely on a dry, two-paced pitch that helped seam and spin bowlers alike and helped limit both sides to near identical scores as Sabres posted 181 for eight in reply to Kent's 181 for nine.

The hosts were given a flying start to their innings by James Hockley's 41 from 31 balls that included eight well-struck boundaries, but wickets fell steadily once he played on to make it 49 for one after just seven overs.

Daryll Cullinan (30), Matthew Walker (23), Mark Ealham (19) and Matthew Fleming (23) all looked well set, but went for cameos rather than substantial, match-winning knocks.

Sabres too struggled for fluency as the occasional ball reared, while others kept low, and only a highly intelligent and unbeaten 56 from Rob Turner saw them through to level the scores and to a share of the points.

With 15 required from Fleming's final over, Turner swept one four to go to a 66-ball half-century and, with five needed for victory off the last ball, uppercut another Fleming slower-ball over the head of wicket-keeper Paul Nixon for four.

It was one-day improvisation at its best and completed a thrilling finish but a result that a near 4,000 Kentish crowd hardly wanted to see as it prevented the hosts from moving into second spot and from completing a one-day double over the Sabres.