Following the defeat on Friday, this has become a "must win" game at Taunton, while somerset are celebrating the 150th anniversary of their club, in front of a totally sold out, all ticket, crowd.

Averages after game 4 https://countycrickethub.net/team-averages.html?teamid=16&comp=2&year=2025

I'd expect Bamber and Booth to return, which will strengthen the bowling. Sadly, unless Sam Hain is allowed to play, there is no alternative to, what has been a barely adequate, batting line up.

Live scores link h_ttps://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=msummary#mdc1d3e72-bee1-4c03-b55f-429e54297b4c

Highveld wrote:

Following the defeat on Friday, this has become a "must win" game at Taunton, while somerset are celebrating the 150th anniversary of their club, in front of a totally sold out, all ticket, crowd.

Averages after game 4 https://countycrickethub.net/team-averages.html?teamid=16&comp=2&year=2025

I'd expect Bamber and Booth to return, which will strengthen the bowling. Sadly, unless Sam Hain is allowed to play, there is no alternative to, what has been a barely adequate, batting line up.

(Live scores link to follow)

I think you may have made the same mistake as me, it's the T20 quarter final that has sold out, tickets still on sale for tomorrow.

Booth in for Sylvester.
We won the toss and chose to bowl.

10 out of the 11 in that Somerset side have come through their academy I think.

Add Lintott and that makes a full xi

Why do we persist in giving so many overs to Yates, when he clearly can't get any wickets and continually gets thumped around the ground (7 an over at the moment!). He's had more overs than any other bowler - crazy!

Our decision to bowl is going well, isn't it?!
Once again, we seem to have made the wrong call on the toss.

I can't see us getting anywhere near the 300+ required, given the current form (and application!) of our batsmen, but I'd love to proven wrong.

I don't think we've done badly to be honest. Rew and Lammonby aren't world beaters but they are established first team players who know how to build an innings. And that's what they did, taking no risks until they were well set.
It's a fast scoring ground so 300 is gettable if 2 or 3 of our batters can get "in".

Bald_Reynard wrote:

Why do we persist in giving so many overs to Yates, when he clearly can't get any wickets and continually gets thumped around the ground (7 an over at the moment!). He's had more overs than any other bowler - crazy!

To be fair he was extremely economical until his last over which went for 19. But yeah he has bowled a bit more than he might have. All the spinners got banged. Can't see us getting these unless somebody tons up, which a few of our guys are capable of and due so fingers crossed.

Somerset coverage is very different with pluses and minuses. They are very biased but loveable. The ads are intrusive, they don’t appear to be know much at all about us.

Yeah fair, have been the most one eyed commentary team on the circuit for a while but they are nice people.

You can tell that it’s a must win game seeing the caution shown by Davies….

Let's take this deep, come on...

A well crafted win.

Yes, the allrounder Lintott plays another good hand. At least this time in a winning cause.

I like that from Kai at the end, he went up to Booth and presumably told him he was gonna run no matter what if he hit it. That meant even if Booth was run out, Kai was on strike for the last balls. Clear thinking from a young cricketer.

That was a really excellent run chase, and Kai Smith played a very sensible & responsible innings. When Hamza Shaikh was out i thought we might be in trouble, but young Kai together with Jake Lintott (not forgetting Jani's impetus with his 21 off 14) saw us home. Good knocks too from Yates, Malik & Shaikh so a real team effort today.

Three big games coming up, a couple of wins should see us through.

Wow, Jake with the bat this time (ably assisted by Kai and Vaansh of course). After Hamza went and needing over 100 with only 13 overs to go, I didn't believe we'd do it.
I think I said (in the Middlesex thread) that Jake deserves to be in the 1st team, as much for his batting, as his bowling. It's nice to get an opinion right, occasionally!

Good shout