War Vs Som: Somerset Beat Warriors By 12 Runs, Enter Clt20 Semifinals

NEW DELHI: Somerset booked their berth in the semifinals of the Champions League Twenty20 after registering 12 runs victory over Warriors on Wednesday.

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Chasing 147, Adam Dibble provided Somerset crucial breakthrough as he removed Colin Ingram.

Earlier, Craig Kieswetter scored a patient unbeaten half century as Somerset posted a fighting 146 for four.

Electing to bat, Somerset made a shaky start, losing opener Peter Trego (0) in the very first over but recovered well when Kieswetter (56 not out) got the game going.

Fast bowler Lonwobo Tsotsobe gave the Warriors an early breakthrough, removing dangerous Trego, who had also scored a half century against Royal Challengers Bangalore, in his first over to start off with a maiden over.

Tsotsobe's joy was short-lived when he was treated with disdain by Roelof van der Merwe. Van der Merwe took 17 runs in an over, laced with two boundaries and a six.

Thanks to van der Merwe's quick-fire 16-ball 32, Somerset recovered from early jitters. Kieswetter and van der Merwe stitched an impressive 29-ball 48 from 4.5 overs for the second wicket.

With wickets falling at regular intervals, the onus of bailing Somerset out of danger shifted to Kieswetter and he did it quite well by batting through the innings and taking the team score to near 150 mark.

Jos Buttler (30) and James Hildreth (21) chipped in with cameos for Somerset to post a fighting total.

Teams:

Somerset: Alfonso Thomas (captain), Peter Trego, Craig Kieswetter, Roelof van der Merwe, James Hildreth, Jos Buttler, Nick Compton, Arul Suppiah, Adam Dibble, Steve Kirby, Murali Kartik.

Warriors: Johan Botha (captain), Jon-Jon Smuts, Ashwell Prince, Colin Ingram, Craig Thyssen, Kelly Smuts, Athenkosi Dyili, Nicky Boje, Wayne Parnell, Rusty Theron, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.