Clinical Somerset clinch first one-day title since 2001

Half-centuries from Tom Banton and James Hildreth complemented a fine performance with the ball as Somerset registered a comfortable six-wicket win over 2018 champions Hampshire to lift the Royal London One Day title on Saturday (May 25) at Lord's.

Jamie Overton bagged three wickets while Josh Davey and Tom Abell got two apiece to restrict Hampshire to a total of 244 for 7. Somerset then rode on Banton and Hildreth's solid knocks, along with useful contributions from the other top order batsmen, to reach the target with 6.3 overs still remaining.

Unlike the start that Hampshire had with the bat, Somerset had profitable contributions from the openers as Banton and Azhar Ali put on a century partnership, getting it in a brisk fashion. They added 112 runs within 20 overs before Fidel Edwards led Hampshire's fightback by sending back the openers in successive overs. While Banton departed for a 67-ball 69, which included nine fours and a six, Azhar fell five short of a fifty.

The quick wickets led to a rebuilding phase as Peter Trego and Hildreth minimised the risks, concentrating on rotating the strike. They added 49 runs before Fuller sent back Trego to create an avenue for Hampshire in their bid to sneak back into the game. However, Hildreth guided Somerset towards the target by finding the boundaries regularly, striking eight fours during his 68-ball 69. Abell and George Bartlett came up with handy scores of 14 to support Hildreth as Somerset got over the line comfortably to register their first title win since clinching the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy in 2001.

Earlier, a collective bowling effort helped Somerset restrict Hampshire to below 250, with Davey, Jamie Overton and Abell doing the bulk of the damage with the ball. Hampshire kept losing wickets at regular intervals and lacked partnerships of substance with the top three failing to go past 20. Davey accounted for openers Aneurin Donald and Tom Alsop while Joe Weatherley fell to Lewis Gregory to leave their side in a spot at 50 for 3.

Rilee Rossouw and Sam Northeast were involved in a rebuilding partnership, one that ended at 46 with the departure of the former. Northeast went past 50 and put on a promising stand with Gareth Berg but this partnership too did not reach 50, with Jamie Overton dismissing Berg. This led to a mini collapse as Hampshire lost three more wickets in quick succession to be reduced to 180 for 8 in the 41st over.

In danger of being bowled out for less than 200, James Fuller came to Hampshire's rescue with a brisk 55 off 48 deliveries, which included four fours and two sixes. Mason Crane served as a good ally for Fuller, assisting the No. 7 batsman in an association of 64, which was the only partnership in the innings that crossed the 50-run mark and gave the Hampshire bowlers a decent total to defend, which however proved insufficient in the end.

Brief scores: Hampshire 244/8 in 50 overs (Sam Northeast 56, James Fuller 55*; Jamie Overton 3-48, Tom Abell 2-19) lost to Somerset 245/5 in 43.3 overs (James Hildreth 69*, Tom Banton 69; Fidel Edwards 3-69) by 6 wickets.