Leg Trappers 116

Somerset CC 117-6

Skipper Jacobi Robinson led from the front at the National Sports Centre (NSC) yesterday, fashioning an unbeaten half -century to power Somerset to a thrilling four-wicket win over Leg Trappers with eight balls to spare.

Arriving at the crease with his team on the rack at 36 for five after seven overs, all-rounder Robinson lashed 65 off 46 deliveries and dominated a 75 run sixth-wicket stand with Shane Hollis (19) that took the match away from Leg Trappers who at one stage seemed destined to meet St.David's in this weekend's final at the same venue.

Robinson, who hammered 11 fours, combined patience with controlled aggression and batted sensibly with Hollis who provided the perfect foil at the other end.

Hollis eventually fell with his team on the brink of victory, leaving incoming batsman Jordan DeSilva (five) to serve the last rites with a sweetly timed boundary off the bowling of 2007 World Cup veteran Saleem Mukuddem that ignited joyous scenes among his ecstatic peers, who raced onto the pitch to greet their heroes.

Despite his team's wobbly start, Robinson said he always felt confident the West Enders could turn the tide.

"My team was in trouble and so I had to be mature about the situation and try and work the gaps," he said, moments after seeing his team safely to victory. "I haven't really been in good nick and so I had to do the basic things. I kept it simple and in the end I was rewarded.

"When I first arrived at the crease I had to assess the situation but once I saw that I could pick the gaps, and the bowling wasn't that tight, I was allowed to play my game."

Hollis also held his end of the bargain playing a supportive role that enabled his skipper to face the bulk of the strike.

"Shane has and will again be a key player for us this season because he always gives us 20 to 30 runs week in week out," Robinson added. "Shane is what we at Somerset call 'the finisher'."

Somerset will now take on a star-studded Islanders in Saturday's final which, on paper, promises to be a mouth-watering fixture.

Robinson reckons his team will be up for the challenge.

"St.David's are a strong team, but like every other team they also have their faults," he said. "We just have to work out a game plan for them and then go from there. We are confident we can beat them because our team is playing well at the moment."

Jermaine Warner (16) was the only other Somerset batsman in double figures yesterday.

Towering seamer Johann Oosthuizen claimed three for 16 and was the bowler responsible for Somerset's top order collapse.

Charging in from the southern end, Oosthuizen bowled opener Dwight Basden behind his legs, found the edge of Davon Wade's (0) bat and then had the potentially explosive Azeem Pitcher (four) sharply caught on the mid-wicket boundary.

After his team-mate had made the early breakthrough, leg spinner Duane Webber (two for 18) kept the run rate at a trickle before Robinson spread the field to put Somerset back on course.

Earlier, Leg Trappers were in command at the crease with opener John Woolnough (35) and Mukuddem (30) in full flow with the bat. But after a shaky first over Somerset off-spinner Marcus Johnson (two for 28) applied the brakes and in the space of three overs had former team-mate Woolnough and Mukuddem back in the pavilion.

Arun Kikkeri (17) offered resistance lower down the order, adding 13 with Webber (four) and another ten along with Oosthuizen (eight) before he was the seventh and last Leg Trappers batsman to fall in the 18th over.

Seamers DeSilva, Robinson and Wendell Ditton took one wicket each respectively. On Saturday Somerset squeezed past Southampton Rangers by seven runs to advance to yesterday's semi-final on the back of an unbeaten half-century from Reid Jones (57) and some superb bowling from all-rounder Robinson (two for 16).