Lord’s (Somerset won toss): Cleveland County beat Somerset by 22 runs.

Struggling Cleveland County secured a welcome victory after overcoming an in-form Somerset by 22 runs in the first of a Athene T20 League Premier Division double-header at Lord’s.

Somerset, who came into the encounter searching for a third successive victory, were set a target of 117 after Cleveland posted 116-5 from their allotted overs with Mackih McGowan leading the way with an impressive knock of 70.

However, despite a solid knock of 42 from Matt Watson, no other Somerset batsman was able to make a substantial contribution as they could only muster a total of 94-5, bringing their unbeaten run to an abrupt halt.

To top off a good morning, McGowan also proved the pick of the Cleveland bowling attack with figures of two for 22.

Cleveland got off to the worse possible start as opener Q'Shai Darrell was bowled by Greg Maybury with the very first delivery.

Bryce Daniels (12) joined McGowan at the wicket with the pair steadying the innings, putting 66 runs on the board over the course of the next 13 overs before Daniels was caught off the bowling of Watson.

McGowan finally fell after 17.5 overs, caught off the bowling of Dominic Sabir for an impressive 70 from 49 balls which included two fours and six sixes.

Makia Young added a solid 22 runs from 24 balls, before being run out by Jayden Alberteze to leave the score at 115-4 after 19.3 overs, with Dennis Musson (3) the last man out two deliveries later when caught off the bowling of Christopher Douglas.

Jalani Richardson (1 not out) and Domain Rabain (0 not out) saw out the innings as Cleveland set a total of 116.

In reply, Alberteze (3) and Watson got off to a slow start, reaching 19 from 5.3 overs before the former was bowled by Tybrae Robinson.

Sabir (11) came to the wicket and along with Watson added a further 27 runs before being run out in calamitous fashion following a miscommunication with his batting partner.

Alje Richardson scored a quickfire 18 from 24 balls before being caught off the bowling of Young with the score at 78-3 after 16.5 overs, with Watson (42) finally falling an over later, eight runs short of his half century, stumped off the bowling of McGowan.

With overs running out and defeat all but confirmed, Douglas (6) was the last batsman to fall with just two deliveries left and the total at 90, as McGowan claimed his second wicket.

Jordan DeSilva (2 not out) and Greg Maybury (4 not out) survived the last two deliveries as the Somerset's innings came to an end at 94-5.