SOMERSET Over 50s are enjoying a successful season in the ECB 50+ Cup and have won all seven of their group matches, beating Devon, Cornwall, Wiltshire, Dorset, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands to reach the the knock out stages of the competition.

On Sunday they played against Oxfordshire at Minehead CC in the round of 16, at the end of which Somerset emerged as the winners by five wickets to book their place in the quarter finals.

After skipper Kevin Parsons won the toss on a good wicket, he invited Oxfordshire to bat first and thanks to a tight bowling and fielding display the visitors were restricted to 190 for five from their allotted 45 overs.

Jon Dalwood was the pick of the bowlers with two for 34 from his nine overs, while there was one each for Gary Bennett, Jason Squire and Martin Cox.

When Somerset responded they lost Mark Sage with the score on 12 and skipper Parsons on 31 after which the other opener Cox played the anchor role.

He shared a partnership of 61 for the third wicket in 16 overs with Matt Kearsey, who made 32, and then put on 43 for the fourth in seven overs with Rob Moysey who made 20.

Cox had taken the total onto 149 in the 38th over when he was the fifth wicket to fall for a patient 56 which came from 100 balls and included seven 4s and one 6.

Requiring 42 for victory Bennett joined Dalwood who remained together to see Somerset to victory in 41.5 overs, with Minehead’s Bennett appropriately hitting the winning runs on his home ground.

Dalwood ended unbeaten on 29 and Bennett not out 17.

Somerset now play Durham in the last eight at Midsomer Norton on August 10.