Cricket365

Lancs End Somerset's Title Hopes

Saturday 27th September 2008

Gary Keedy bowled Lancashire into a winning position at Taunton as Somerset's flickering title hopes were extinguished.

The home side were bowled out for 227 in their second innings, left-arm spinner Keedy claiming five for 56 and Oliver Newby taking three for 55 for match figures of seven for 127, his best for Lancashire. Ian Blackwell top scored with 55.

Needing 182 to win, openers Mark Chilton (76 not out) and Paul Horton (43no) gave the visitors the perfect start with a century opening stand, Chilton reaching fifty off 71 balls, with a six and six fours. They closed on 122 without loss and need just 60 runs on Saturday for victory.

Somerset began the day on 66 for two, just 20 runs ahead, and needed a big innings from at least one of their remaining batsmen.

Only 12 had been added when James Hildreth fell lbw to Glen Chapple for 22.

Soon it was 96 for five as Zander de Bruyn (33) edged Keedy to wicketkeeper Luke Sutton and Peter Trego got a leading edge aiming to hit Keedy over mid-on, instead giving a catch to Newby at mid-off.

Blackwell and Craig Kieswetter took the total to 130 for five at lunch and their partnership was worth 71 when Kieswetter was pinned lbw by Newby for 20.

Much rested on Blackwell, who reached his half-century off 92 balls with six fours, passing 1,000 Championship runs for the season in the process.

But, on 55, he failed to move his feet wafting at a delivery from Newby and got a regulation nick through to Sutton.

Steffan Jones made only a single before giving Sutton his eighth catch of the match trying to sweep Keedy, but Andy Caddick offered more stubborn resistance, facing 41 balls for his seven and helping Alfonso Thomas add 27 for the ninth wicket.

Caddick looked unlucky to be judged lbw stretching well forward to Keedy before last man Charl Willoughby hit the spinner over long-on for six.

Thomas had batted well for his 28 off 68 balls, but had to take chances at the end and fell to a catch close in trying to reverse sweep Keedy.