Somerset spinners earn semi-final berth

Somerset 115 for 3 beat Northamptonshire 112 for 6 by seven wickets
Scorecard

Craig Kieswetter produced a timely return to form as Somerset crushed Northamptonshire by seven wickets at Taunton to reach the Friends Provident t20 Finals Day. The England one-day wicketkeeper hit 33 off 28 balls, with a six and four fours to help his side chase down a simple target of 113 with three overs to spare. Peter Trego (30) and James Hildreth (25 not out) were the other main contributors.

Northamptonshire aided their own demise with three run-outs after winning the toss. Only Stephen Peters (40 not out) and Rob White (26) could make any impression on a turning pitch as left-arm spinners Murali Kartik (1 for 15) and Arul Suppiah (1 for 14) tied them in knots.

After Kieswetter's bright start, Trego ensured an early finish with two big sixes off James Middlebrook, who eventually dismissed him, but could not match the economy of the Somerset spinners or of team-mate Jack Brooks, who bowled four overs for 11.

The Steelbacks had not helped themselves with some wretched calling at the start of the match. Chaminda Vaas was dismissed without facing a ball, responding to White's bid for a third run off only the second delivery of the game.

Alex Wakely then drove Ben Phillips to mid-off where Mark Turner spilled a low catch. But when White failed to respond to the call for a single, both batsmen ended up at the bowler's end and Turner's throw to the wicketkeeper saw Wakely run out for eight.

It was 31 for 2 at the end of the six power play overs and 32 for 3 when David Sales pulled Turner straight to Kartik at mid-wicket. The introduction of Kartik to the bowling attack immediately paid dividends on the dry, used pitch as he clean-bowled White with an arm ball. That made it 42 for 4 in the eighth over.

Marcus Trescothick reacted to the sight of the ball turning by bringing on Suppiah at the other end and his first delivery saw Elton Chigumbura stumped by Kieswetter. Northamptonshire were in disarray as they found it almost impossible to get the spinners away for boundaries. They had struggled to 81 for 5 in the 18th over when Andrew Hall was run out by Hildreth.

Trego went for 18 off the penultimate over as Peters at last cleared the rope, Turner picking up an ankle injury as he jumped to try and take the catch at deep midwicket. But it was much too little too late to set Somerset any sort of challenge.