Blast Game 6 - Taking on the Brummies on the Tone
By Grockles
June 7 2026
Another injury adds to the batting woes of Somerset as we await the news concerning a possible finger break to Tom Abell's hand after he was hit on it by Jansen in Bristol on Friday night. He is named in the squad for today but it will be pretty doubtful we will see him. The good news is that both Rews are at the ground today with Thomas being named in the squad and James being back as the Third Test has ended early. We hope both will be available this afternoon. Warwickshire must be confident that they will be facing us in a slump as we come home after three consecutive losses. Warwickshire have won the toss and they will bowl first.
Blast Game 6 - v Warwickshire @ Taunton Sunday 7 June 2026
Possibly the most important game of the 2026 Vitality Blast sees us lose Tom Abell with a broken finger but welcome both Rews back and the T20 debut of Alfie Ogborne. The Bears have won the toss and will bowl first against a Somerset line-up of;
Banton (w), Thomas, Hermann, Rew.J, Rew.T, Gregory (c), Sams, Goldsworthy, Overton, Ogborne, Ball
We need to bowl better and restrict because big targets are not our strength when we are down by about 50% of our striking white ball players with TKC, Smeed, Abell and Lammonby all out for a significant number of games. Good to see Alfie coming in because if we have bowlers going for 10+ an over we might as well gamble that rot can be stopped by our youngsters rather than letting older 'experienced' bowlers continue to do it. Alfie will play his first T20 game tonight and we wish him well and hope for a significant opening performance. Riley Meredith's time with Australia A (where he did not bowl a ball in competitive anger) ended in Pakistan on June 4 so he should be around the place for the next T20 game - what state his bowling will be in we will have to see and we must also hope that his presence will be relevant at the back end of this tournament. Tonight's result may decide that before he bowls a ball for us in competition.
There is a minute silence before the game in rememberance of the crew who lost their lives in the helicopter crash mid-wicket.
Banton and Thomas face Woakes from the MT first. Bants takes the first boundary but also takes the first slash outside the off stump but we are 6 for 0 after 1. Josh gets off the mark with a single and will face Gleeson at the beginning of the second from the River. They move to 25 for 0 as Webster is introduced for the fourth and finds himself with consecutive boundaries from Banton (6 and 4) but Tom tries one too many and plops the ball to Yates off the bowler to leave for 24 - we did NOT need that at 35 for 1. In comes James Rew as Gleeson changes ends and we see the same again as Thomas looks to fire over the boundary and is caught on the rope by Mousley for 11 at 39 for 2. Brainless I'm afraid and we see it too often in this side. In comes Jordan Hermann (after a scare when his name was on the Lions scorecard but it was his brother Reuben instead).
The 'Powerplay' ends at 46 for 2 and Ed Barnard takes the 7th. The 50 arrives with a Hermann flip to the CA boundary off 40 balls - 53 for 2. Thompson bowls his first from the River with the 8th and we take him for 10. This brings Uman Tariq on with the 'wait for it' action and he links up wth the spin of Mousley from the River end. It's all a bit 'wobbly' at the moment with our batting pair - who will not have batted together in this stuff before.
At 10 overs we have 73 for 2 with James on 17 from 17 and Jordan on 19 from 21. Barnard replaces Tariq and his fourth goes onto the flats balcony from the South African with almost no backswing. The 11th ends at 88 for 2 with Hermann on 31 from 25 taking the lead. The 50 partnership arrives at that score.
James gets in on the act in Thompson's next as he sixes the bowler into the TN stand and the pair look to move to three figures. Unfortunately on 98 James tries for the boundary again and he goes to a good low catch by Smith for 28. In comes his younger brother and he is bowled next ball. Thompson takes 2 in the over for 20. Out comes the skipper to support Hermann who puts Yates' first ball into the Gimblett to bring up the 100 - 104 for 4. He goes to 50 from 30 balls with 5 fours and 3 sixes in it at 118 for 4. He went 6,4,6,4 to get there.
The skipper then gets off the mark at the end of the 13th which brings Tariq on at the other end for the 14th. is fifth ball doesn't fool Hermann as he puts him into the Botham. Mousley also changes ends and his full toss bounces off the scoreboard from Lewis' bat to double his score to 12. Gleeson is back at the River and our two are going for it as we move towards 150. A few shots fall sort of fielders coming in but none go to hand - thank heavens.
With 4 to go we have 147 for 4 and Tariq changes ends again to keep the batting pair wondering. Gregory doesn't wonder and he puts the Warwickshire bowler into the stands to take us over 150 and bring up the 50 partnership at 153 for 4 (that 50 came up in 25 balls). Tariq gets some inappropriate heckling from the crowd - not sure why though he did bowl a wide (how dare he?). He does mess up a bats rhythm but if they get a line on him and he's gone for 31 off 3. We move to 166 for 4 with 3 to go.
Mousley again changes ends and Lewis welcomes him with another into the Hildreth. After the next dot, he puts him there again followed by a straight four. He finishes with another six and takes 22 off the over. 188 for 4 as the skipper moves to 44 off 21.
Thompson takes the penultimate over (Mousely went for 40 from his 4) and Lewis goes to 50 off 22 balls with 2 fours and 6 sixes - 196 for 4. Credit to the pair who run a very comiitted two which brings up the 100 partnership from 41 balls. Then the 200 arrives with an over to go. They have certainly worked these last few overs. Gleeson takes the last one and Hermann takes him for a one bounce four after two good yorkers. He then sixes him to the CA. Gleeson comes ack with a dot. He finishes with a swept four to go to 90 of 48 - excellent. Lewis took 55 from 26 and we finish on 215 from 4. Really good acceleration BUT can we defend it? They need 216.
The Reply
Alfie takes the new ball in his debut and the third ball has a quick single attempt but Golders hits the stumps and runs out Malik for nothing. Webster comes out to join Yates at 2 for 1. The first boundary comes from him to get off the mark and Ogborne goes for 7 from the first. Craig is on at the River and Yates straight drives him off his second ball. The bowler then dots him so he straight drives his fourth ball as well. He gets another very close to Hermann before the over is finished (he would have done very well to have caught that one though he made a decent effort). Craig goes for 12 as Ogborne takes his second and he moves to 24 after 2. The first ball of COve's second goes way past the Gimblett scoreboard and he gives away another to the Ondaatje before the end of the over and has given 26 away off his 2 overs - not what we really wanted.
Ogborne is also bowling more than one and is in his third having gone for 11 off his first two. He can't hold them either though as Webster changes is bat and puts the next ball over the CA for six. But before the end of the over, he gets the bat to flip it around, straight into the hands of Thomas Rew (that will help his confidence) giving Alfie his first T20 wicket and reducing Warks to 46 for 2 as Yates leaves with 24 to his name. In comes Mousely to face the first over from Sams as we now have a game on as we have passed the 5 over requirement.
The 50 arrives in the 6th (34 balls) with Webster looking ominous on 21 from 16 and Mousely having moved on to four. The 'Powerplay' finishes on 53 for 2 (we were 46 for 2). Goldsworthy takes the 7th and the team must be hoping he can hold them in check during the 'press' overs. The present RRR is 11.6.
He goes for 7 and the rate rises to 12. His captain and namesake takes the next one and he goes for 5 as the rate moves to 12.5 (though the rate is exactly the same as ours was). However in the next over LG Jr goes for consecutive fours to the Ondaatje as Webster goes into the 30s and Warwickshire move to 76 for 2 at te end of the 9th.
The 10th brings Jake Ball into the attack. He goes for a four and a six off his first 2. He goes for 15 from his first and they finish the first half on 93 for 2. Sams comes on at the MT for his second as we start the second half of this innings. They still need 116 as they bring up the 100 off 62 balls. Webster goes to 50 from 35 with 3 of each. Sams holds them quite well though and they have moved to 104 for 2. Unfortunately the skipper gives them a long hop which goes into the Somerset and spoils all the hard work of the over before. He goes for 18 off the over (23 off his 2), the DLS is now behind their rate and the rain is threatening.
Ball changes ends and things don't really get better as the boundaries just keep coming. He goes for 38 from his 2 and Webster is smacking the runs we provided at the end of the innings before they are desperately needed.
Overton returns at 145 for 2 and they reach 150 for 2 with Webster moving to 93 from 46. Mousley has also moved to 34 from 18. This has all gone very badly since about the 7th over. With 6 overs to go they need 57 at 159 for 2.
With 26 balls left Warwickshire need 42 with two bats on 98 (Webster) and 47 (Mousley) as Lewis Gregory bowls his 3rd finishing with 0 for 34. They need 10 an over andthey will get them unless the rain stops them and if it does they will win on DLS which they are ahead of presently by 13. Sams bowls out with the 17th as Webster takes a single to go to a 54 ball 100. Following that Mousely takes 50 off 29 in the same over. Daniel ends with 30 off his 4. They need 36 of 18 balls. As the skipper takes the 18th. After a dot he goes for six into the Botham and the mayhem continues with a Webster driven four to the Trade Nation boundary. Finally they smack one to a fielder and it is Craig Overton at long off. Webster finally goes for a match wining 112 at 191 for 3. In comes Ed Barnard with 25 needed off 13 balls. That becomes 2 a ball off the last 2 overs.
Alfie Ogborne takes the penultimate over. A yorker first ball gets Mousley on strike and the next is swept for four. The next also goes to the same place in front of the Somerset Stand. The next is a pie and goes for six. Which takes them to 207 needing 9 from 8. This game is over and so is our Blast for this season. 1 ball left and they need six. It's a dot and we go to the last over with no chance of winning this as they give the last to JAKE BALL
To be fair, he takes a wicket with the first one as the bat fires it straight to Craig and Barnard goes for 2 at 211 for 4. Woakes comes in and takes a risky single to get Mousley on strike needing 4 from 4 balls. They run 2 off the third leaving 1 to tie and 2 to win off 3 balls. A wide ties the game and they need 1 from 3. Mousely squirts it through the infield to the Ondaatje boundary and they run the single to take them to 216 for 4 and they win by 6 wickets because we can't defend 215 for heaven's sake. Mousley ends on 71 and Woakes ends on 1. What an awful bowling performance that created a game we absolutely deserved to lose.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:06:10:10:21:45 by Grockle.
After their excellent win at the Oval against Surrey last Sunday, Sophie being shortllisted for the monthly MVP award and the highly successful international fixture on Tuesday, the women's game in the county is on a roll and they will go into the next one brimming with confidence.
They went into the last one unchanged and may do so again tomorrow at 11:30
Although Craig has also been shortlisted for the MVP Award (in his case after winning it last month), the men's team is by no means as confident as injury and poor performances has seen them lose 3 in a row for the first time in 5 years and the news has not got better for their clash with the Bears tomorrow.
With Will Smeed, TKC and Tom Lammonby already sidlined through injury for the forseeable future and both Rews away on some form of international duty, the resources cupboard is looking a bit sparse despite the resetting of Jordan Hermanns contract to include T20 appearances. There is still no sign of Riley Meredith but he should be with us 'soon' as he was only picked for the ODI part of the Pakistan series and the last game there was on June 4. He didn't play in any of the games so he has been doing squad duty for the tour. What state his bowling will be in is anyone's guess and how quickly he can adapt from Asian to UK wickets is also something to ponder.
Meanwhile, there seems to be some doubt about Tom Abell after his departure from the field last night during the Gloucestershire innings. He had a swollen hand and was going for an X-ray... not hopeful for Sunday and we have a CC1 game against Notts starting on Thursday.
If Abell is not fit that creates a hole in a batting line-up that was already struggling with gaps;
The names for a line-up would be Banton, Thomas, Hermann, Vaughan, Goldsworthy and then you start struggling until Gregory even Finn Hill has a niggle so one wonders whether Kian Roberts will join the squad and get a game?
Bowling wise there are questions about our second level of attack Josh Shaw as a new ball bowler hasn't really worked but is Alfie Ogborne up to the T20 challenge? It's a 'live or die' environment with 4 overs but he may be worth the gamble.
JT Langridge has pace but is he still too raw for this? Jake Ball has not had the best time in the last couple of games and there is the Leach option that we have not tapped at all this competition (possibly for reasons)
The Men's campaign started really well and has now become a bit of a mess unfortunately. Maybe the sun will shine on it on Sunday at 3:30
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2026:06:06:12:15:57 by Grockle.
It's all a bit of a car crash isn't it? Trent Bridge should be a fun visit.
Bears Preview
The women have seemed to add Bea Willis and Maddie Russell (but no Jess Hazell) to their squad of 14
Odgers, Luff, Learoyd, Davis, Holland, Jones, Griffiths, Skelton, Harris, Barnes, Vukusic, Willis, Anderson, Russell
The men name Thomas Rew in their squad though he was named in the Lions group and Tom Abell in their 14 so... The Somerset list is;
Banton, Thomas, Hermann, Abell, Rew T, Goldsworthy, Gregory, Sams, Overton, Vaughan, Shaw, Ball, Ogborne, Pretorius
Not sure if this is a prospective 14 or an actual 12. I'm sure we'll find out tomorrow
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:06:06:20:54:09 by Grockle.
Quote:Grockle
Present news is that Tom Abell has broken his finger after being hit on the hand by Jansen. No idea why he is in the squad because surely the X-Ray would have shown that before that was published
Never known a season like it where so many batters have picked up hand or finger injuries. Not great news this!
Suspect club just copied and pasted squad from Friday before results of X-Ray were known. Vaughan to replace him is only option. We really are looking threadbare in batting department.
(Aarrghhh, bbc comms saying he removed his hand ftom the bat handle and is shaking it. Not another one..😱)
Our batsmen can then chase at the required rate, without panic and playing impulsive shots. This must be easier as we're low on confidence now.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:06:07:19:16:13 by Somerset LaLaLa.
In each of these matches the totals should have been defended but for very expensive overs near the desth.
Quite a few more than usual lapses in the field hasn't helped obviously.
I guess a fallow year can be expected now and then unless of course you think we are entitled to get to finals day.
Not a pretty picture right now, despite some superb batting today.
Hope we can shake this off by Friday, as Notts. away in the Championship would be a stiff test at the best of times.
Grizzers
The bowling resources we had at the start of the Vitality are the same resources we have available now. The difference is that Craig and Lewis are not the bowlers they were even earlier this season. We have hoped for something from Josh and Jake that they have not been able to provide and we have a seam attack that is far too samey to be effective when a side gets hold of it.
We have only just decided to use our left arm seam option though we did try the more 'part-time' version while Tom Lammonby was also batting. Why has it taken this long to get Alfie on board?
We have used almost no spin options despite having 4 of them - two in every side we have picked. Why hasn't Lewis been used more effectively when seam has not worked? Why has Josh not been used at all? If the bowling options have been struggling then why has Archie been named yet never used in an eleven. Where has Jack been?
A weakened batting line-up managed a big total tonight and the best bowling attack we have available could not defend it. The issue is NOT injury it is poor performance by poorly managed/used bowling resources.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2026:06:07:22:54:35 by Grockle.
Said it all winter but the lack of and poor recruitment during winter is coming home to roost. 3 domestic bowlers departed in Green, Aldridge and Davey with only Josh Shaw coming in to replace them. To maintain success in any format you have to keep evolving not stand still which we appear to have done.
Jason Kerr post Gloucestershire thrashing on Friday when interviewed by Anthony Gibson referenced it being a young team. A very odd comment and factually incorrect as the only two that night who can fall into that category were Josh Thomas and Thomas Rew.
Given the club pride themselves on T20 performances which they consider one of their top priorities on the field, given the financial rewards our management have a lot to answer for regarding recruitment and use of bowlers. Not bringing in Alfie until yesterday, alongside not utilising our spin options more often are questions that need answering.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2026:06:08:13:33:06 by Cleavo87.
It's not right for Somerset to lower the Tone (sic).
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:06:09:11:49:01 by Grockle.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
On Thursday last against Glamorgan, all hell was breaking out when the PA announcer ( not employed by the club but by SKY - but how are the crowd supposed to know that) made more than one anti-Welsh reference during the Glamorgan innings which made people in the Press area turn around and look at poor old Spencer - the media boss. They were the worst I've heard for a very long time in a sport where mutual respect is a thing most of the time.
The county based (non BBC mostly) livestream commentaries tend to be unconsciously biased at times (us included - though we do try harder than some others to provide some balance), though there are some around the circuit who really struggle to hide it out of plain sight - Essex being one of them at times and depending on individuals on the mic.
Still don't like it, mind. Not least because it's not the greatest example yo set to the kids.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:06:09:16:01:43 by Bagpuss.
Though it was before they had the large screens so prominently that they could show it on the field of play so they would have only had to put up with it on the highlight reels.
I know it was decades age because an ex England player who used to play for us and had been out for a duck in his very early career was punished for that by having it tatoo'd on a cheek (you can guess which of the four) and used to use the gym behind the Old Pavilion before it moved to another part of Taunton (partly because of him so the story goes) in the early 2000s.
But you are right that this lack of subtlety has come with the short format. It's not that players haven't always 'sledged' each other but this is just petty stuff.