Match Report: Lancashire secure home quarter-final by thrashing Somerset
Career-best List A centuries from Keaton Jennings and Rocky Flintoff propelled Lancashire to their highest ever score in the category and a thumping 174-run Metro Bank One-Day Cup group victory over Somerset at the Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton.
The visitors ran up 443 for six after being invited to bat first, Jennings slamming 156 off 127 balls and 18-year-old Flintoff 123 – his first Lancashire ton - off just 76 deliveries. It was the biggest ever List A total against Somerset on their home ground and featured 20 sixes.
In reply, the home side were bowled out for 269 in 39.2 overs, Tom Lammonby top-scoring with 68. Tom Aspinwall claimed four for 42 and George Balderson four for 58 to cement a comprehensive victory.
Matty Hurst contributed 47 to a Lancashire opening stand of 83 in 16.1 overs with Jennings before becoming one of two victims for off-spinner Archie Vaughan, who also had Josh Bohannon stumped as Lancashire moved to 154 for three after 25 overs, Marcus Harris having been yorked by James Theedom.
That was when the real carnage began, Jennings and Flintoff clearing the ropes seven times, sharing a fourth-wicket stand of 214 in just 21.1 overs. Jennings, who boasts a first class triple century against Somerset, reached his tenth List A hundred off 97 balls, while Flintoff followed to three figures off only 65 deliveries.
Somerset’s bowling fell apart under pressure as 289 runs came off the last 25 overs of Lancashire’s innings, leaving the home side to rue the decision to bowl first under cloudless skies in soaring temperatures on a road of a pitch.
Flintoff leapt high in the air with a clenched fist when taking the single that brought up his maiden List A ton, having savaged the bowling in a manner reminiscent of father Andrew.
By the time Jennings was dismissed, Lancashire were well on course for 400-plus and late barrages from Flintoff, Harry Singh and Jack Blatherwick, whose unbeaten 32 occupied just ten balls, ensured there was no respite for the beleaguered Somerset attack.
After their battering in the field, the hosts quickly slipped to 33 for two, Aspinwall removing both openers leg-before. It was 85 for three when Lewis Goldsworthy was caught at deep mid-wicket off Balderson and 150 for four when Josh Thomas was bowled for a rapid 42 advancing down the pitch to Harry Singh.
By then the required run-rate was more than ten an over and the outcome all but inevitable. Lammonby holed out to deep square off Aspinwall having faced 58 balls and hit 10 fours, taking his run tally in eight group games to 547 at an average of 68.
Teenaged wicketkeeper Ben Church produced some belligerent blows in making 24, but his promise couldn’t disguise a day to forget for Somerset, who were outplayed in all departments.
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