Essex undone in Vitality Blast by Somerset’s brilliant batting

It was the second time the west county side had come out on tops in the group stage, this time by seven wickets at the County Ground in Chelmsford.

It strengthened Somerset’s position at the top of the South group but Essex remain firmly in the chase for one of the three other qualifying positions.

They were downed though by Tom Banton (42), Will Smeed (36), Tom Kohler-Cadmore (28), Tom Abell (40 not out) and Sean Dickson (30 not out) who struck 16 sixes between them in an almost perfect team batting performance.

Paul Walter whacked 51 and Robin Das a career-best 72 in a 94-run stand after slumping to 15-3.

But Somerset ended Essex’s five-game winning streak by chasing down 186 with 21 balls to spare to move two points clear at the top of the group.

Das and Walter’s partnership came courtesy of two differing approaches to aggressive batting.

Walter took the aerial route with five sixes, starting with a pair of pulls before towering over cover, slog sweeping Roelof van der Merwe and then reaching his 26-ball 50 by clubbing a full toss over cow corner.

He chased to point next ball to fall for 51.

Das showed off his touch play with some beautiful timing in his 11 fours, although showed the occasional muscle with two sixes over long on.

His second T20 50 came in came in 31 balls before unleashing to end up 72 off 39 balls.

He pinged Henry to long on which began Essex’s second collapse, losing their last five wickets for 43 runs in 31 balls.

Das felt there should have been more runs on the board from the home side, considering the quality of the pitch.

He said: “We were maybe a few runs short on that wicket, which turned out to be a very good batting wicket in the end.

“Somerset played really nicely but it isn’t much to dwell over, we’re just going to move onto the next one.

“I was pretty upset with the time I got out, I could have given us a stronger finish and got us past 200 – and a more competitive score.

“Overall I was happy. I started the innings quite nicely and then built in the middle overs.

“It was a good cricket wicket. It had a bit in it early for their bowlers and then gave value for your shots.”

Somerset head coach Jason Kerr said: “We have been excellent with the ball and in the field. We kept taking wickets, which is vital in T20 cricket and wrestled the momentum back.

“If you look at our opening partnership it is incredibly formidable. Smeedy played and missed his first ‘could of’ balls but when he goes, he goes.

“He is so dynamic and Banton is looking mature beyond his years. Their partnership intimidates the opposition.

“To chase 185 in the 17th over is a very comprehensive situation.”