SOMERSET’S hopes of reaching the latter stages of this year’s Metro Bank One Day Cup suffered a double blow when they lost both their games over last weekend - against Kent on Friday and Leicestershire two days later.

At Canterbury on Friday after being asked to bat first, Somerset posted 313 for nine from their overs, the highlight of which was skipper Lewis Goldsworthy’s 87 during which he shared a stand of 94 with Josh Thomas who made 60, while new recruit Savin Perera hit 75.

In reply Kent were 64 without loss before Goldsworthy accounted for Ben Dawkins after which Daniel Bell-Drummond and Sam Northeast put on 71 for the second wicket. Bell-Drummond , who has invariably enjoyed success against Somerset, squeezed a single off Vaughan to reach three figures, but skied Josh Shaw to Vaughan without addition shortly after.

The game was very much in the balance before Ekansh Singh reignited Kent’s hopes with a brilliant 40 off 20, only to hit Shaw to Goldsworthy, leaving Kent needing 35 from 32.

Somerset were favourites again when Goldsworthy bowled Dudgeon for a duck, but with 10 needed off the last two, Stewart hit Shaw for successive fours before driving two to secure a memorable win by two wickets, with eight balls to spare.

On Sunday at Grace Road after being asked to bat first, the hosts were reduced to 18 for 3 as Migael Pretorius claimed two and Josh Shaw one.

However, thanks to a sixth wicket stand of 155 in 21 overs between Ben Cox who made 89 and Ian Holland who hit 77 they recovered to post 298 for 8 from their 50 overs. Pick of the bowlers for Somerset were Jake Ball who took 3 for 40 from 9 overs while Pretorius claimed 3 for 57 from 10, one of which was a maiden.

Somerset’s response also started badly when they lost Archie Vaughan with the score on 7 and Perera four runs later.

Tom Lammonby looked to be settled but on 23 he was caught off the bowling of former Somerset team mate Ben Green who in his previous over had accounted for Goldsworthy. Forty six for four became 48 for 5 when Josh Thomas was dismissed for 8.

A partnership of 20 between Johnny Connell and Ben Church took the Cidermen to 68 when the former was LBW to Tom Scriven for 6, who three balls later bowled Pretorius for no score.

Somerset’s young ‘keeper Church offered good resistance and batted sensibly for 20 off 31 deliveries which made the score 78 for 8.

JT Langridge, not known for his batting prowess, then blasted his way to 32 off 23 balls with 4 fours and two 6s, helping to add 41 with Shaw before he departed with the total on 117.

The last wicket pair of Shaw and Ball saw the total onto 125 when the the latter was dismissed, leaving Shaw unbeaten on 8 as Somerset were beaten by 164 runs with 20 overs to spare. Ben Green ended with figures of 3 wickets for 28 runs from his eight overs.

This was a disappointing result for Somerset who will be looking to bounce back to winning ways when they host Surrey on Friday, Aug 7, starting at 2pm, after which they travel to play at Northants on Sunday (Aug 9) starting at 11am.