Lord’s (Western Stars won toss): Somerset beat Western Stars by 56 runs

Somerset secured their second straight win and fourth of the season against Western Stars in the Athene T20 League Premier Division at Lords today.

The west enders got useful contributions throughout their batting order to post 132-8 in their allotted overs on the spacious ground after being put in.

They were then equal to the task in the field as Stars were restricted to 76-9 in their allotted overs.

Somerset went into the match fresh off the back of a 23-run victory over Warwick a day previously and were able to build on the momentum.

“We lost the toss but we was going to bat first anyway,” Jordan DeSilva, the Somerset captain, said. “We thought it was just important to get a score on the board knowing the wicket might do a lot and then just trust our bowling that’s been so well in T20.

“It was just about looking to get a competitive total and the guys bowled excellent. We had a quick changing game plan and it ended up working out.”

DeSilva led the Somerset batting with 30 from 32 balls including one six. Opening batter Matt Watson was next high man with 23 with Dominic Sabir (18), Alje Richardson (17), Isaiah Richardson (13), wicketkeeper Jayden Alberteze (12) and Chris Douglas (10) the remaining batters in double figures.

Rohan Davis, Sebastian Davis and Brian Hall took two wickets each for Stars.

Stars were 21 without loss but completely lost the plot after off-spinner Douglas removed openers Dante Wellman and Gavin Manders in the space of three balls with no addition to the score.

Tre Manders (17), Hall (13) and Wellman (10) were the only Stars batters in double figures.

Off-spinner Watson inflicted the heaviest damage with the ball for Somerset, claiming three for 13 to cap a fine all round display with bat and ball.

Douglas finished with two for 14 to hold his end of the bargain.

Alje Richardson was sharp in the field as he executed a sensational running catch at cow corner to dismiss Justin Robinson and also threw down the stumps from backward point to run out Khiry Furbert.

“We are still lacking in the batting department but our bowling has improved and our fielding has got a lot better and so we are able to defend small totals,” Jeff Richardson, the Somerset coach, said.

“We had a plan to get in as many overs as we can before they realised they were behind the run rate. That adds a bit of pressure and then of course they have to pick it up and bit and that worked in our favour.

“We also knew if we got Tre (Manders) early then there’s added pressure there because we’re well aware that he has been in spectacular form but has also been dropped early in his innings on several occasions. So if you take the first chance then you’re good to go.”

Somerset

J Morrissey c T Manders b R Davis 1

M Watson c Anderson b Hall 23

D Sabir b S Davis 18

A Richardson c T Manders b S Davis 17

†J Alberteze st Furbert b Hall 12

C Douglas b R Davis 10

*J DeSilva c S Davis b Robinson 30

I Richardson b Campbell 13

G Maybury not out 1

S Ceasar not out 2

Extras (nb 2, w 3) 5

Total (8 wkts; 20 overs) 132

A Morrissey did not bat

Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-43, 3-49, 4-71, 5-73, 6-94, 7-126, 8-130

Bowling: Campbell 4-0-30-1; R Davis 4-0-22-2; S Davis 4-0-24-2; Hall 4-0-27-2; Robinson 4-0-29-1

Western Stars

D Wellman c Maybury b Douglas 10

G Manders st Alberteze b Douglas 2

J Anderson b Caesar 2

T Manders c&b Watson 17

B Hall b DeSilva 13

†K Furbert run out 1

J Robinson c A Richardson 1

R Davis b Watson 4

D Richardson not out 3

S Campbell b Sabir 1

S Davis not out 0

Extras (lb 8, nb 1, w 13) 22

Total (9 wkts; 20 overs) 76

Fall of wickets: 1-21, 2-21, 3-48, 4-50, 5-54, 6-55, 7-70, 8-70, 9-76

Bowling: Maybury 2-0-4-0; Douglas 4-1-14-2; I Richardson 2-0-7-0; *DeSilva 3-0-10-1; Caesar 4-0-18;1; Watson 4-0-13-3; Sabir 1-0-2-1

Umpires: A Knight, B Smith

Match referee: S Douglas.

ATHENE T20 PREMIER DIVISION

PW L T NR Pts NRR

St George’s 7 7 0 0 0 70 3.889

Bailey’s Bay7 6 1 0 0 60 0.934

W Stars 8 4 4 0 0 40 0.808

Somerset 844 0 0 40 -0.637

South’ton 8 350 0 30 -0.747

Warwick 826 0 0 20 -1.541

Cleveland 8 1 7 0 0 10 -1.662