Somerset join Glam & Bears in One-Day Cup knockout

Worcestershire attracted another decent Sunday crowd to sunny New Road for the visit of Hampshire

Somerset joined Glamorgan and Warwickshire as the first three sides to qualify for the knockout stages of this year's One-Day Cup - with just one round of qualifying group games to go.

Somerset look favourites to finish top in Group A after completing their games with a hammering of Middlesex at Lord's to total 12 points.

But second-placed Worcestershire, on 10 points, could still pinch top spot if they can beat Lancashire at Old Trafford on Wednesday and make up ground on Somerset's superior run-rate.

Durham, who beat Kent in a game of over 600 runs at Canterbury, Hampshire and Derbyshire are the other three sides who can still finish in Group A's top three.

Previously unbeaten Glamorgan and Warwickshire, who qualified from Group B on Friday evening, both suffered a first defeat.

Holders Leicestershire will join them if they beat Gloucestershire in a winner-takes-all clash at Bristol in Wednesday's final round of qualifying games.

Aside from discovering which three counties will join Somerset, Warwickshire and Glamorgan, it will be determined which two sides top each group to earn a home semi-final next Sunday, and also who plays in Friday's two quarter-finals, which will be hosted by the side who finishes second in each group at home to the side finishing third in the other group.

If it is Worcestershire who finish second, they will not be able to host the fixture as their ground at New Road has been chosen to stage a three-day England Lions-Sri Lanka game - and the Pears will need an alternative venue. But, if they lose in Manchester, they could miss out completely.

Meanwhile, there was cheer for the two group backmarkers Lancashire and Sussex, who both won for the first time after six straight defeats.

Group A - Somerset shine at Lord's again

Somerset booked their place in the knock-out stages with a second limited-overs win over Middlesex at Lord's this season and Australian paceman Riley Meredith was again the hero.

After taking 4-12 to beat Middlesex in the T20 Blast back in June, this time the Tasmanian took 4-27, while England spinner Jack Leach claimed two wickets as the hosts were rolled for 135.

James Rew (53) and Lewis Goldsworthy (41) then shared an unbroken third-wicket stand of 81 as Somerset reached 138-2 to win by eight wickets with 23 overs to spare.

Young Worcestershire seamer Jack Home took his tally of wickets in this competition to 15 in four games as group rivals Hampshire were also soundly beaten.

The paceman hired from Shropshire for this tournament took 3-33, backed by two scalps each for Ethan Brookes and Fateh Singh, as Hampshire were bowled out for 164, anchored late on by Dom Kelly's 45.

Ed Pollock (67) and Gareth Roderick (47) then shared an opening stand of 104 as the Pears cruised home by eight wickets in the 37th over.

After two successive away defeats, Hampshire remain on the road and must now beat Middlesex at Merchant Taylors' School on Wednesday to stand any chance.

Aussie paceman Riley Meredith took four wickets for Somerset

Worcestershire finish their group games in Manchester against Lancashire, who ended their losing run by winning the battle of the Group A bottom two at Wantage Road by just four runs against Northamptonshire.

After Lancashire had slumped to 152-7, George Balderson hit 53 off 67 balls to steer his side to 240-9, slamming five fours and a six in a stand of 65 with Josh Boyden (44 not out).

Justin Broad hit a career-best 63 in reply, his first List A half-century, but Boyden took 2-49 as the hosts fell just short on 236-8.

Durham pulled off an unlikely seven-win run to beat Kent in a thriller at Canterbury.

After Ben McKinney made 115 in Durham's total of 307, Kent seemed to be cruising to victory at 223-2 with still 14 and a half overs left.

But the loss of Harry Finch for 104, having put on 183 for the third wicket with Jack Leaning (81) triggered a collapse, George Drissell taking 4-38 as the hosts fell short on 300-9, losing their last six wickets for 71, leaving Colin Ackermann to successfully defend 17 off the final over.

Group B - Foxes hope to join Bears & Glamorgan

Glamorgan fell just short in a brave attempt to wrap up Group B at Leicester with a game to spare.

Australia's Peter Handscomb hit 103, rescuing last year's winners Leicestershire from 59-5 as the hosts totalled 271-8, after seamer Timm van der Gugten had taken 5-49.

After 68 from Colin Ingram and a stunning late-order 61 from Dan Douthwaite, Glamorgan got close, still needing 31 when the penultimate wicket went, only to whittle the target down to 10 off 10 balls.

But they were bowled out for 262, Foxes left-arm spinner Liam Trevaskis taking 4-54, backed by ex-Glamorgan man Roman Walker, who took the last three wickets to earn a nine-run win.

Warwickshire also suffered their first defeat as they lost at home to Yorkshire at Rugby School.

Rob Yates made 72 as the Bears completed their innings on 242-9, pegged by a limited-overs best 6-28 from George Hill - Yorkshire's seventh-best List A figures.

But the Tykes were always in control in their reply, sparked by a rapid 60 from Harry Duke, followed by an unbroken 129-run stand between centurion Will Luxton, who made 105, and Matthew Revis who was also still there at the end on 51 as Yorkshire won with 33 balls to spare.

The Bears are back at Rugby School on Wednesday to face Nottinghamshire in their final game, while Yorkshire remain on the road to finish against Glamorgan in Cardiff.

Will Luxton hit successive sixes to reach his maiden century for Yorkshire

Nottinghamshire had their hopes ended for another year as they lost by seven wickets at home to Essex.

Matthew Montgomery (53) and Ben Slater (47) helped Notts reach as they collapsed from 163-4 to be bowled out for 218 in the 48th over, with Jamal Richards taking 5-31.

But a third-wicket stand of 185 between centurion Robin Das (100 not out) and Noah Thain (83) helped Essex win with more than six overs in hand to claim only their second win.

Previously winless Sussex finally triumphed at the seventh attempt as they beat fellow Group B strugglers Surrey at Hove.

Ben Geddes (81) and Josh Blake (53) both made half-centuries as Surrey were bowled out in the 48th over for 242.

But, in reply, Sussex were always in control thanks to a second-wicket stand of 153 in 32 overs between left-handers Tom Alsop (108) and Tom Haines (79).

This week's fixtures

Wednesday 14 August

Group A

Chester-le-Street: Durham v Derbyshire

Canterbury: Kent v Northamptonshire

Manchester: Lancashire v Worcestershire

Merchant Taylors' School: Middlesex v Hampshire

Group B

Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Yorkshire

Nevil Road: Gloucestershire v Leicestershire

Hove: Sussex v Essex

Rugby School: Warwickshire v Nottinghamshire

Friday 16 August

Quarter-Finals

Sunday 18 August

Semi-Finals