Tue, 20 Sep 2011 - IP Auckland vs IP Somerset, Champions T20 League 2011, 4th Qualifier - Bulletin

Auckland out of CL t-20 after losing thriller

New Zealand t-20 champions Auckland played back to back nerve wrecking qualifying matches but failing to win either of them. Consequently Auckland have been eliminated out of Champions League. Like Kolkata, Somerset kept their nerves at the key moments at the end of a thrilling chase to get across the line off the last ball of the innings. Somerset chased a low target of 126 that got tougher in the middle of the chase, with four wickets in hand.

Having experienced countless swings and tilts, the game entered the last over bowled by Michael Bates with Somerset needing five. After dot first ball, not out batsmen James Hildreth and Steve Snell scored a single each in next three and tried to go quick second on the fifth ball but that resulted in run-out of Hildreth. With one needing off final ball, Somerset skipper Alfonso Thomas walked in showed his experience to hit the last ball over cover to seal the tense win.

It was Hildreth and Snell who played a major role in Somerset successfully chasing the target with duo adding 61 for the sixth wicket after their side had experienced a middle order collapse. Somerset were going great guns with Peter Trego and R van der Merwe taking score to 52 for one in seven overs but next five overs saw the team lose four wickets, including both of them, to be reduced to 64 for 5.

After Merwe was dismissed by left arm Ronnie Hira for 18, Bates bowled a double wicket snaring Trego and Nick Compton to dent the chase. Things went far from worse when Chris Martin removes Arul Supaih before Snell and Hildreth got chase back on the track.The duo exhibited great alertness to the situation taking their time to get hang of the pitch with Snell cracking some innovative boundaries. The wicketkeeper batsman scored his unbeaten 34 off 24 laced with four boundaries. Hildreth knock was equally important hitting some crucial fours when chase got tense on his way to run a ball 34.

For Auckland Bates was gain superb with the ball giving away only 13 in his four overs while Hira’s four produced only 15.

Auckland suffered a top order collapse before former Kiwi Lou Vincent consolidated the innings with an unbeaten run a ball 47 to help his side to 125. Trego and Alfonso Thomas, skippering the side in regular captain Marcus Trescothick, reduced the Kiwi side 14 for three in first nineteen balls of the innings with former removing Jimmy Adams and Martin Guptil. Alfonso had Australian Rob Quiney caught plumb infront to have Auckland reeling.

Vincent though showed his experience and did the rearguard in skipper Gareth Hopkins’ company with a steady stand of 49 for the fourth wicket. Both the right handers were looking good with Vincent playing a couple of cracking pull shots and Hopkins keeping the scoreboard ticking over with two full blooded sweep shots.Just when it looked the duo will set a base for late charge, Hopkins was run-out courtesy a brilliant piece of work from Arul Supaih in the field. The Auckland skipper went for 22 with a strike rate of 100.

Somerset bowlers kept the scoring rate under check and took wickets on regular occasions. Auckland lost wickets in a quick succession to be reduced to 104 for 7 in 18th over. Vincent and Andre Adams though hit some lusty blows to take score past 120.Vincent 47 included three fours and a six while Adams’ 7 ball 13 included one six.

All five Somerset bowlers bowled brilliantly with Thomas and Trego taking two wickets each and their eight overs just yielding 47. Leg spinner Max Walker had returns of one for 18 in his four while left arm spinner R van der Merwe conceded 25 in the four and claimed wicket of Kyle Mills.