COUNTIES CRICKET Somerset edge to Showcase win

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Created on Monday, 11 May 2026 21:08

Last Updated on Tuesday, 12 May 2026 07:22

Published on Monday, 11 May 2026 21:08

Written by PAUL BOLTON Cricket Correspondent

Devon fell agonisingly short of beating a Somerset XI as they lost by two runs in a T20 contest at Exmouth in the first of this season’s Showcase fixtures between National Counties and the first-class counties.

Matt Whalley had taken Devon to the brink of victory by taking 14 from the first three balls of James Langridge’s penultimate over of the match which left them needing 10 off the last over to chase down a target of 175.

But James Theedom, who has already played for Devon, bowled two dot balls to Charlie Ward at the start of the over before a scrambled leg bye got the dangerous Whalley on strike. Whalley found the boundary with the next ball to reduce the requirement to five from two balls but another dot ball followed and Whalley managed just two off the last delivery.

Whalley and Ward added 53 in a rapid unbroken ninth wicket partnership which revived Devon after their chase had been derailed by the loss of three wickets for two runs in six balls.

Acting captain Callum Harvey (28) and Luke Medlock (12) departed in the same over from Jenson John and they were followed by Harry Passenger who fell to left-arm spinner George Addy, another who has played for Devon.

Seb Linnitt, who was released by Somerset at the end of last season, made 28 before he was run out by Addy four balls after debutant James Matravers had been stumped for 18 off the spinner.

Matravers, who is on Gloucestershire’s academy, had earlier taken two wickets in his first over but a youthful Somerset side – their senior players were involved in a County Championship match against Glamorgan – recovered well.

Captain Fin Hill was one of six players with National Counties experience in Somerset’s side and he began the recovery in a third wicket partnership of 65 with Bertie Michael.

Hill was snared by Sam Read for 35 from 23 balls but Devon could not dislodge Michael whose unbeaten 83 steered Somerset to 174 for four in an unbroken fifth wicket partnership of 64 from 28 balls with Zach Vukusic, a Croatia international who played two T20 matches for Devon last season.

The Showcase matches continue on Friday May 15 when Wiltshire host Glamorgan in men’s and women’s T20 matches at the County Ground in Swindon.

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