Match Report - Glos v Somerset Day Four
25 August 2020
Craig Overton finished with figures of five for 26 as Somerset wrapped up a thumping 314-run Bob Willis Trophy win over Gloucestershire at the Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton.
After a delayed start, the hosts needed just 15 minutes to claim their opponents’ last two wickets and move to the top of the Central Group.
Overton took one of them and the last fell to Jack Brooks to complete a game dominated by Somerset’s potent seam attack.
The hosts took 20 points to boost increasing hopes of reaching the Lord’s final, while Gloucestershire had to settle for three, having been comprehensively outplayed.
Play began at 1.45pm after more heavy overnight rain had saturated the outfield. Brooks had five balls of an over to complete from the previous evening.
Somerset skipper Tom Abell then threw the ball to Overton, who struck with his third ball of the day from the River End.
Josh Shaw failed to keep down a rising leg-side delivery and George Bartlett dived forward to take a good low catch at mid-wicket.
Shaw departed for a duck and, with the sun shining after all the rain of the previous two days, Somerset closed in on a quick finish.
It came in the next over, bowled by Brooks, Tom Lammonby clinging onto a sharp catch above his head at backward point to dismiss Matt Taylor for three.
Somersset have now won three out of four Bob Willis Trophy games. And it would almost certainly have been four had bad weather not robbed them over victory over Warwickshire in their previous game.
Their seam attack looks as good as any in the competition and they will go into their final match against Worcestershire at New Road favourites to win the group.
Gloucestershire head coach Richard Dawson said: "We were comprehensively outplayed by the better side and all credit to Somerset. They are a top team, who have performed well over a number of years in red ball cricket.
"We failed to perform to the standards we set ourselves, particularly with the bat. The lads are very disappointed and there are no excuses coming from the dressing room or from me.
"We have learned a lot being here for four days and competing against top players. But it is easy to say that and we have to make sure we put what we have learned into practice."
