Panthers beaten by Trego and Somerset

By

Middlesex 255-7 (50 ov) lost to Somerset 258-4 (48.2 ov) by four wickets
(Middlesex 0 pts, Somerset 2 pts)

Middlesex failed to capitalise on strong starts with both bat and ball as they were beaten by Somerset in their latest Royal London Cup match at Lord’s.

Chris Rogers (52) and Dawid Malan (82) helped Panthers to 163-1 but they collapsed to 189-6 six overs later.

Ollie Rayner’s quickfire 37 not out allowed Middlesex to post 255-7 and Toby Roland-Jones then removed both Somerset openers inside the first 10 overs.

But Peter Trego struck 120 from 137 balls, sharing a stand of 162 with Colin Ingram (68), to put Somerset in sight of victory.

Harry Podmore removed both late in the innings but it wasn’t enough to hold up the Somerset charge, with Alex Barrow hitting successive boundaries to win it.

It is Panthers’ third defeat in four Royal London Cup matches and, although qualification from group B remains wide open, Middlesex will need to find a winning formula in the short game soon.

Malan and Rogers batted steadily, gradually upping the run rate after a cautious start before reaching their half centuries in the 26th over.

Their partnership of 108 was ended when Rogers was bowled by part-time spinner Johann Myburgh, but Malan went on to add a further 55 in nine overs with Paul Stirling (29).

On 163-1, with 15 overs to go, Panthers were in a decent position from which to kick on but instead Somerset struck back with five quick wickets as Middlesex’s middle order failed.

Ryan Higgins (27) and Rayner survived to put on 48 for the seventh wicket and give Somerset a testing target.

Dangerous openers Nick Compton (2) and Marcus Trescothick (19) both edged behind off Roland-Jones to leave the visitors on 33-2 after the first 10 overs.

But Middlesex again couldn’t make the most of their opening as Trego and Ingram plundered the bowling with 13 fours and six sixes between them.

Their stand of 162 came in 30 overs but even after both fell to Podmore, it still left Somerset requiring a run a ball.

Quick boundaries from Barrow shifted the momentum back firmly in the visitors’ favour and he supplied the finishing touch with 10 balls to go.

Follow West London Sport on Twitter
Find us on Facebook