Somerset’s All-Round Performance Helps Seal Five-Wicket Victory
Somerset claimed a dominant five-wicket win over Surrey in the opening match of the Vitality Blast season at the Cooper Associates Ground, Taunton. Despite a powerful 92 from former England opener Jason Roy, Surrey’s batting and bowling couldn’t withstand Somerset’s steady attack and all-round display.
Surrey’s Batting Efforts Led by Roy’s Blazing 92
Surrey’s innings, put into bat, was built around Roy’s blistering knock of 92 off 54 balls. His innings included six fours and seven sixes, anchoring the team’s total of 146/9. While Roy played a lone hand, he was dropped twice early, which gave him a lifeline to unleash his power hitting. Unfortunately, the rest of Surrey’s batting couldn’t capitalize, as Somerset’s bowlers, particularly Matt Henry (3-21) and Riley Meredith (3-26), kept the pressure on with regular wickets.
Somerset’s Seam Attack Strikes Early
Somerset’s bowlers started strong. Matt Henry struck early, sending Dom Sibley back to the pavilion, and Craig Overton applied further pressure by delivering a maiden over. Surrey were left floundering, reaching just 30/2 after the powerplay. However, it was Roy’s resilience that helped Surrey get past this difficult phase, as he formed a partnership with Sam Curran. Their 57-run stand brought Surrey to a more respectable 66/2 by the halfway point.
Roy’s Unstoppable Force and the Missed Opportunities
Roy, who reached his half-century off 31 balls, displayed power hitting with sixes off Meredith and Goldsworthy. However, his luck changed when he was dropped on 71, only for Gregory to overstep, reprieving Roy. Nonetheless, Surrey’s fortunes continued to wane, as wickets fell at crucial moments. Tom Curran and Laurie Evans fell in quick succession, and eventually, Roy’s resistance ended when he was dismissed for 92 off Meredith in the final over.
Somerset’s Solid Start to Run Chase
Somerset’s chase got off to a great start, with an opening partnership of 45 runs in just six overs. Will Smeed, in particular, was quick to accelerate, hitting a six off Yousef Majid’s slow left-arm. However, Somerset’s batting wasn’t without hiccups. Tom Banton fell early for 23, and Smeed was dismissed after making a steady 35 off 29 balls.
Middle Order Stabilizes, Abell and Green Seal Victory
Despite the loss of wickets in the middle overs, Somerset’s recovery was led by Tom Abell and Ben Green, who stitched together an unbroken partnership of 35 for the sixth wicket. Green, particularly, finished with a flourish, hitting a six and a four off Chris Jordan in the 17th over, guiding Somerset to victory with 13 balls to spare. Green remained unbeaten on 23 from 16 balls.
Somerset’s Strategic Performance and Surrey’s Missed Chances
While Roy’s individual brilliance was clear, Somerset’s balanced team performance, particularly from the seam attack, was the key to the win. Surrey’s bowlers, despite a few good spells, couldn’t maintain consistency. On the other hand, Somerset’s strong fielding and disciplined bowling, led by Henry and Meredith, kept them in control throughout the chase.
