Somerset Cricket Club (Somerset won toss): Willow Cuts beat Somerset by five wickets

An unbeaten half-century from Chris Douglas and a devastating second spell with the old ball by seam bowler Kamir Bashir guided Willow Cuts to a five-wicket victory over Somerset in this west-end derby at Somerset Cricket Club yesterday.

Bashir was the catalyst behind a batting collapse in which Somerset slipped from 164 for five to 179 all out in the space of 30 balls, their last three wickets falling with no addition to the score.

The Bermuda bowler was brought back into the attack in the 37th over and he wreaked havoc on Somerset’s middle and lower order, who had no answer to the onslaught.

Bashir made the big breakthrough in the first over of his second spell after trapping makeshift opener Greg Maybury leg-before.

Maybury’s dismissal proved to be the turning point of the innings, as Somerset’s lower-order bats tumbled like the proverbial deck of cards.

After seeing the back of Maybury, who topped Somerset’s batting with a well-played 50 from 95 balls, which included seven fours, and added 92 runs for the third wicket with Kwasi James, Bashir ran through the order with consummate ease. He picked up two additional wickets in the 41st over after bowling Justin Corday and trapping Jahkai Benjamin plumb in front.

Bashir then removed Dennico Hollis and Tyshaun Brown with successive balls to place himself on a hat-trick, but he was denied the feat after last man Kirk Brown blocked out the next ball, only to be stumped by Chris Foggo after casually strolling out of his crease under the impression the ball was dead.

Bashir claimed six for 29 off ten overs with one maiden.

Malachi Jones, the Willow Cuts captain, seized two for 13 from seven overs that included three maidens bowling from the southern end.

James was the next biggest contributor for Somerset, who won the toss, with 45 from 67 balls that included seven fours and a six.

Somerset’s innings started shortly after because the club hosting a church event, turning the cricket match into a day-night affair that ended under lights.

In reply, Cuts overcame a top-order collapse before getting safely across the line with 44 balls to spare.

Jordan DeSilva, who captain Somerset in the absence of Jekon Edness, made the breakthrough in the second over of the innings after opener Dexter Basden was given out leg-before to a ball that stayed low.

Somerset’s joy was quickly muted, though, as Douglas and Shaquille Jones steadied the ship after adding 69 runs for the second wicket.

The two left-handers played some attractive shots down the ground and either side of the wicket to keep Somerset’s fielders chasing leather.

Jones, a former Somerset player, dominated the stand, blasting three sixes and as many fours in a dashing knock of 42 from 33 balls before he was brilliantly caught by Corday, who took a superb, running catch at long-on off the bowling of Joshua Gilbert, the off spinner.

Cuts lost three additional wickets in the space of 17 runs, with captain Malachi Jones and former captain Sheroy Fubler dismissed cheaply.

With Cuts in a spot of bother in the 21st over at 118 for five and the run-rate moving along at a trickle, Somerset appeared to be on course for yet another big upset to go with their victory over St David’s a fortnight ago. But Douglas and Foggo had other thoughts in mind.

After seeing off spinners Corday and Gilbert, who kept the pressure on the batsmen pitching the ball in the right areas while bowling unchanged in tandem, Douglas and Foggo paced Cuts to victory with plenty to spare.

But things might have been entirely different had Kirk Brown not dropped Douglas at fine leg off Justin Donawa, the medium-pace bowler, when the batsmen was on 31.

Somerset were ultimately made to pay, as Douglas went on to thump 77 from 88 balls, with 11 boundaries, his fifty arriving in the 29th over after sweeping Gilbert to the square-leg fence.

Douglas and Foggo added 63 runs for the sixth wicket before victory was achieved under floodlights after Tyshaun Brown’s wide ball evaded Pierre Smith, the wicketkeeper, and rolled all way to the boundary. Gilbert was the pick of Somerset’s bowling with four for 30 off his ten overs.