CRICKET Somerset coast into semi-finals
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Gloucs 113; Somerset 114-4
Somerset win by six wickets
Somerset booked their Benson and Hedges Cup semi-final place against Kent at Canterbury on 13 June with little fuss at Bristol yesterday morning.
Somerset, resuming on 63 for 2 and needing only 114 to beat their neighbours, took just 40 minutes and 10 overs to complete the job.
With their opening batsman Marcus Trescothick completing a half-century before falling lbw to Mike Smith, Gloucestershire's hopes of a great escape were dead and buried.
The home side badly needed helpful bowling conditions after their dismal batting performance on Tuesday evening, but a bright, sunny morning made Somerset's task even more comfortable.
Trescothick, beaten countless times outside off-stump on Tuesday, soon drove the seamer Smith through the covers and then picked up two of fours off the spinner Martyn Ball.
Having reached 52, however, Trescothick's luck finally ran out when Smith gained his lbw decision. Richard Harden (30 not out) and Simon Ecclestone (4 not out) finished it off with nearly 20 overs remaining. Ecclestone completed the job when driving Javagal Srinath through the covers.
Gloucestershire were certainly guilty of self-destruction, but Somerset fielded like tigers and their decision to play three spinners - Mushtaq Ahmed, Harvey Trump and the gold award winner Jeremy Batty - paid handsome dividends with the trio capturing seven wickets.
"I think it's all set up for us," Andy Hayhurst, the Somerset captain, said. "Kent stuffed us in the group, then they got us into the quarter- finals by defeating Sussex, and now we are going to beat them in the semis. It's fate!"
BENSON AND HEDGES CUP Semi-final draw: Kent v Somerset (Canterbury); Worcestershire v Lancashire (Worcester). (Ties to be played on Tuesday 13 June).
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