Clydesdale Bank 40, Somerset score massive 64-run win over Surrey
Remarkable batting performances well supported by efficient bowling displays, bagged Somerset a massive 64-run win over Surrey in the Group A clash of Titans of the Clydesdale Bank 40 at County Ground, Taunton on Sunday, August 29. Chasing Somerset’s daunting 36-over total of 290 for 6, Surrey was rolled over for only 227 with about four overs to spare.
Craig Kieswetter, Zander de Bruyn and Jos Buttler faced the bowler friendly conditions in an overcast day scoring half-centuries as Somerset were able to amass an intimidating total of 290 from the allotted 36-overs. Bludgeoning Jos Buttler blazed away with the bat logging a whirlwind 87 runs from just 46 balls looting nine muscular boundaries and four lofty sixes. Craig Kieswetter’s 60-ball 79 saw him hitting seven well-timed boundaries and three huge sixes while Zander de Bruyn compiled 54 runs from 43 balls hitting eight fours across the ground. Both Chris Tremlett and Chris Schofield claimed two wickets while Steven Cheetham and Matthew Spriegel took one wicket each.
With the rain in the air, captain of Surrey, Rory Hamilton-Brown, had no hesitation in asking Somerset to bat first after winning the toss. But later on it was seen that Surrey won the toss, but not much else as their strategy of putting Somerset into bat first came unstuck against Jos Buttler, Craig Kieswetter and Zander de Bruyn.
Opening pair featuring skipper, Marcus Trescothick, and keeper, Craig Kieswetter, set an opening stand of 32 runs with the bulk coming from wicketkeeper batsman, Kieswetter. On the last ball of third over, Chris Tremlett, earned his side’s first success having Trescothick caught by Matthew Spriegel. Trescothick scored eight runs from six balls with the help of a boundary. After Trescothick’s dismissal, Kieswetter and Nick Compton added 33 runs to the scorecard for second wicket stand. Compton departed in the 8th over after being trapped leg before by Steven Cheetham. He scored 10 runs after facing 15 deliveries.
Compton’s dismissal brought Zander de Bruyn to the crease and in partnership with Marcus Trescothick’s, opening partner wicketkeeper, Craig Kieswetter, the pair played a succession of sweet boundaries to drag the side towards an imposing score. Both the partners shared a half-century stand for the third wicket partnership taking the side from 65 for 2 to 152 for 2. Surrey’s bowlers had to wait for the next 12 overs for another success. The partnership was worth 87 when Chris Schofield broke it having Zander de Bruyn caught by Matthew Spriegel. De Bruyn scored 54 runs from 43 balls hitting eight muscular fours.
Fluent opener Craig Kieswetter followed de Bruyn just an over later giving an edge to the keeper Steve Davies behind the stumps off Chris Schofield leaving Somerset 156 for 4 on the board. Kieswetter’s 60-ball 79 contained seven boundaries and three sixes. Kieswetter and de Bruyn’s assault was well continued by Hildreth and Jos Buttler. Both the players shared a three digit stand for fifth wicket partnership taking the side from 156 for 4 to 279 for 4 from 13 overs. Jos Buttler’s pugnacious 87 runs from just 46 balls helped the side to set up a daunting total of 290 for 6.
In reply, Mark Ramprakash, and, Matthew Spriegel, were remarkable with the bat. But five ducks ruined the efforts of the two. Ramprakash scored 73 runs from 64 balls plundering three boundaries and two sixes while Spriegel’s unbeaten 48 of 39 contained six lofty boundaries. Stewart Walters earned his side 45 runs from 48 deliveries hitting six boundaries while Jade Dernbach’s pugnacious 31 off just 14 balls came exclusively through boundaries – four boundaries and a huge six. But the ducks at regular intervals squandered the remarkable batting efforts of all these batsmen.