Second XI Trophy semi-final report: Warwickshire v Somerset
A remarkable seven-wicket haul by Oliver Hannon-Dalby was not enough to save Warwickshire from a 14-run defeat to Somerset in the Second XI Trophy semi-final at Moseley.
Hannon-Dalby reaped seven for 35, and also took two catches so was involved in nine of the ten dismissals, as Somerset made 300 in their 50 overs.
But the match-winning contribution came from a former Bear. Tom Banton, who came through the Warwickshire academy, scored 156 (146 balls, ten fours, four sixes) to underpin a total which proved beyond the Bears’ reach as were 286 all out in reply.
Hannon-Dalby’s stunning display with the ball began with the removal of both openers before he returned to add five more victims, including a final spell of 2-0-7-4, as the Somerset late-order collapsed. Only the tenth wicket, when Ryan Sidebottom bowled Tommy Sturgess, had no input from the former Yorkshire seamer.
But the Bears’ pursuit of their target was hampered by the loss of batsmen who made a start but did not go on to build a major innings. The top five all passed 30 but none reached 50 as Ed Pollock scored 32 (27 balls), Dom Sibley 48 (72), Sam Hain 39 (64), Will Rhodes 44 (38) and Andy Umeed 31 (26).
Alex Mellor hit a brisk 26 but when he perished, 60 were needed from six overs with just the lower order left. George Panayi smashed three sixes to keep the Bears in the hunt but he fell for 37 (27 balls) as the chase fell just short.