Somerset survived more than its share of anxious moments to steal a last-ball victory over Auckland Aces in the Nokia Champions League's Pool B qualifier at the Rajiv Gandhi international stadium on Tuesday, thus bringing the curtains down on the Antipodean side's campaign.
Spurred by a sixth-wicket stand of 61 between James Hildreth and man-of-the-match Steve Snell, Somerset was on the very threshold, needing five off the last over. Michael Bates it was at the firing line for the Aucklanders and Hildreth, attempting a second, was run out with a ball and a run remaining for victory. Captain Alfonso Thomas lofted the left-arm pacemen into the covers for an easy single.
Somerset's ride to victory was hardly a smooth, start-to-finish affair. Chris Jones lived dangerously as he cut Kyle Mills but ran out of luck when Jimmy Adams pulled of a stunning reflex catch at point off the Kiwi spearhead.
Rough ride
From a respectable 52 for one, the Englishmen ran into rough weather when facing Bates' angled line of attack, tottering at 64 for five. The southpaw struck twice and was on a hat-trick too, snaring Peter Trego into the palms of Martin Guptill, posted at short extra-cover. Off his next delivery, Bates got Nick Compton, grandson of the great Denis Compton, to ‘nick' the steepler into the gloves of Gareth Hopkins.
Thereon runs came in a trickle, punctuated by the odd boundary till Snell and Hildreth entrenched themselves in the middle and took charge.
Early jolt
Earlier, the first jolt for Aces, which chose to bat, came in the second over itself, when Jimmy Adams was rapped on the front foot by Trego.
After clipping Alfonso Thomas to the long-leg fence, Rob Quiney departed in identical fashion. Without a run added, Guptill was pouched by long-on Hildreth off Trego.
The onus again fell on Lou Vincent, who didn't disappoint the sparse crowd, pulling Trego to mid-wicket and even hoisted him for an on-driven six, off a full toss and against the pace.
Combining well with Gareth Hopkins, the duo restored a measure of respectability, steering the side past 50.
Aces' most productive partnership ended when Hopkins went back for a second run but Arul Suppiah's direct hit caught the Kiwi skipper yards outside the crease.
With little support forthcoming from the other end, Vincent ran out of partners but bashed on regardless for an unbeaten 47.
The scores: Auckland Aces: M. Guptill c Hildreth b Trego 9 ( 10b, 1x4 ), J. Adams lbw b Trego 0 ( 4b ), R. Quiney lbw b Thomas 4 ( 4b, 1x4 ), L. Vincent (not out) 47 ( 47b, 3x4, 1x6 ), G. Hopkins (run out) 22 ( 22b, 2x4 ), C. Munro b Waller 6 ( 8b, 1x4 ), K. Mills b van der Merwe 10 ( 15b ), R. Hira c Hildreth b Thomas 2 ( 3b ), A. Adams (not out) 13 ( 7b, 1x6 ); Extras ( b-5, lb-6, w-1 ): 12; Total (for seven wkts. in 20 overs): 125.
Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-14, 3-14, 4-63, 5-70, 6-97, 7-104.
Somerset Sabres bowling: Thomas 4-0-21-2, Trego 4-0-26-2, van der Merwe 4-0-25-1, Kartik 4-0-24-0, Waller 4-0-18-1.
Somerset Sabres: C. Jones c J. Adams b Mills 16 ( 11b, 3x4 ), P. Trego c Guptill b Bates 19 ( 24b, 2x4 ), R. van der Merwe c Mills b Hira 18 ( 16b, 2x4 ), J. Hildreth (run out) 34 ( 34b, 2x4 ), N. Compton c Hopkins b Bates 0 ( 1b ), A. Suppiah c Hira b Martin 3 ( 8b ), S. Snell (not out) 34 ( 24b, 4x4 ), A. Thomas (not out) 1 ( 1b ); Extras ( lb-1 ): 1; Total (for six wkts. in 20 overs): 126.
Fall of wickets: 1-22, 2-52, 3-54, 4-54, 5-64, 6-125.
Auckland Aces bowling: Mills 4-0-36-1, Martin 4-031-1, Bates 4-1-13-2, A. Adams 4-0-30-0, Hira 4-0-15-1.
