D’Arcy Short fifty consigns Somerset to a third straight defeat
D’Arcy Short Fifty Consigns Somerset to a Third Straight Defeat
D’Arcy Short posted a blistering half-century as Gloucestershire beat holders Somerset by seven wickets in a one-sided Vitality Blast contest at the Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol.
Overseas star Short smashed 63 from 34 balls and hit three sixes and eight fours to help Gloucestershire chase down a victory target of 138 with 5.5 overs to spare and consign Somerset to a third straight defeat in the Central and West Group.
Gloucestershire Restrict Somerset to 137 for 8
Gloucestershire won the toss and restricted their neighbours to 137 for 8, Marchant de Lange, Duan Jansen and Matt Taylor taking two wickets apiece to spearhead a near-flawless performance in the field. Lewis Gregory top-scored for Somerset, raising 33 in 28 balls.
Their batting line-up already denuded by injury, Somerset lost a wicket to the first ball, Matt Taylor knocking back Tom Banton’s off stump. When Jordan Hermann fell lbw to fellow South African Jansen, who sent down a wicket maiden, the visitors were 14 for 2 and in need of improvement.
Short Leads Gloucestershire to Victory
Clearly a man in a hurry, the Australian went to 50 from just 22 balls with seven fours and three sixes, only Overton among the seamers escaping punishment. Having contributed six in a second wicket stand of 56, Phillips skied a delivery from Sams to point with the score 74-2 in the eighth.
Short hit Sams to long-on and departed in the 13th, only for Jack Taylor to double down in a progressive innings of 34 not out from 21 balls to render the outcome a formality. Gloucestershire’s captain accrued two sixes and three fours.
