By Grockle
August 11 2026

The last of the first phase games in thios year's 50 over competition.  We face Lancashire and have the position of still being able to qualify IF we win AND Warks win AND Glos win AND neither of them do it with a better NRR than us.  Winning is our only priority today.  if the rest falls into place then we will cntinue.  If they don't we'll assess a 4:4 record with all the wins at home and all the losses away.  That is IF we win.  Lewis has won the toss and put Lancashire in.  Sav Perera returns in the battnf and Migael Pretorius returns to the bowling.  Let battle commence.

Metrobank Game 8 v Lancashire @ Taunton Wednesday 11 August 2026

Lewis Goldsworthy wins another toss and decides to bowl first at Taunton.  We go into this one in a 'must win position'  the rest of what must happen for us to continue in this competition is in the match introduction.

The side for today is;

Vaughan, Perera, Lammonby, Goldsworthy (c), Thomas, Connell, Church (w), Pretorius, Theedom, Shaw, Langridge

We go back to the earlier opening partneship and see Sav Perera return to the batting line-up we also rest Jake and Jack (probably for Essex next week? Though do they need over a week?) Kian Roberts and Theo Lamey also miss out.  It's a gorgeous day and there were lotsof people in the queues at just before 10 this morning.

If you are watching on the livestream, the wicket is almost in the foyer of the Caddyshack today with a rope boundary on the Somerset side of the ground today.  Very very short East side boundary.

Josh Shaw opens from the MT to Jennings and Hurst (after Jennings takes a single) 3 for 0 after 1.  At the River Miggy P. The first boundary comes in the third and it is 16 after 4 overs.  It's 35 after 6 as the Lancs guys open their shoulders a little.  The 50 arrives during the 9th with a bottom edge cut to the CA from Hurst who moves to 28 from 27 while his partner is 20 from 25.  A better straight drive over the bowler's head comes in the same over and they finish it at 56 for no loss thanks to a good boundary save by Pretorius

At the end of the 'Powerplay' Lancashire do not look in all that much trouble as they complete it at 6 runs per over moving to 62 for 0.  Hurst is leading but both opening bats seem to have found their way in this game and could make us pay for deciding to bowl first.

JT Langridge is introduced from the MT for the 11th with his side desperate for a wicket.  Finally the breakthrough comes as Hurst drives off Archie Vaughan (who has come on at the River to replace Pretorius) in the 14th over and goes to a very very good diving catch from Migael.  83 for 1 as Bohannon take his place and gets off the mark with a single.  Jennings is still looking ominous and the visitors are still moving alone at just over 6 and over.  Their highest List A score against us is 310 (in a 45 over version of this format) so that is most definitely on today.

After 15 overs the score has moved to 93 for 1.  The 100 arrives in the 16th off Langridge but Vaughan gets Bonannon for 8 in at the start of the 17th stumped by Ben Church coming up the wicket to the wrong ball.  101 for 2 with Marcus Harris replacing him.   

Theedom comes on to bowl from the MT for the 19th but his first goes for 12 so he needs to tighten up to be effective in this one.   Jennings goes past 50 from 54 balls (8 fours) in the next over at 117 for 2.  Harris is not wasting time as he moves into double figures in the same over and they reach 20 overs with 121 for 2 on the board.

Ben Church is looking better and better as this series goes on.  he has certainly played himself into his postion over these 8 games.  A good stumping is followed up by a very good diving save.  It also give confidence to others as James Theedom gets a full slower one through and bowls Marcus Harris for 26.  He's worked damn hard for that wicket so well done to James.  138 for 3 in the 23rd brings Rocky Flintoff to the middle which sets up Flintoff against Vaughan next over.  The young man is off the mark with a boundary from his second ball.

Somerset goes for spin at both ends with the 25th as the skipper brings himself on at the MT.  The 150 arrives off a misfield from Archie in the covers with Jennings on 58 from 66 and Flintoff on a run a ball 6.  At the halfway stage the visitors have amassed 154 for 3.

Jennings opens his shoulders in the 27Th and takes Lewis for a four and a six to move himself into the 70s and his side into the 160s.  The 300 plus is definitely on for this innings.  

The 29th brings Tom Lammonby into the attack at 172 for 3.  His first goes for 12 courtesy of a Flintoff six off the last ball.  Jennings is also going for it as he takes another six off the first ball of Vaughan's 30th over as he bowls out/  His 10 overs garner 2 for 49.

193 for 3 at 30 - a doubling of the score is 386 and with only 3 wickets down gives them a chance to push this over 350 at least.  

Josh Shaw changes ends for the 32nd - he has gone for 44 from his 6 at the end of it.  Meanwhile Rocky F has moved into the 40s with a six into the scoreboard while his partner is into the 90s and this is looking very unsatisfactory at the moment.

The 100 partnership arrives (from 68 balls) at 238 for 3 with Rocky on 49 from 36 and Keaton on 96 from 93.  There are 16 overs to go in this innings so there are some runs to come one would imagine as JT returns for the 35th.  Flintoff's 50 arrives first with 4 fours and 2 sixes in his 37 ball half ton.  Jennings goes to 100 at 244 for 3 from 97 balls with 10 fours and 3 sixes. 

Pretorius returns for the 36th and is immediately sent to the Trade Nation boundary by Jennings to start his search for a second 100 with a boundary.  The Lancashire 250 is the next milestone and it comes up with the third ball of the over.     

Metrobank Game 8 Beat Lancs or Bust

Discussion started by Grockles.com , 11/08/2026 10:47

Grockles.com
11/08/2026 10:47

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Grockle
10/08/2026 18:28

The equations are all still going with the 8th game of the series. I don't get why we are still in this but the minimum we ought to be aiming for today is a win against Lancashire. If that happens, let the rest fall where it may and we'll go from there I assume.

We are back to the 15 man squad for this one;
Vaughan, Perera, Lammonby, Goldsworthy, Thomas, Connell, Church, Lamey, Theedom, Pretorius, Shaw, Leach, Roberts, Ball, Langridge

Given the success of the Surrey game with this squad and then the pretty disappointing game in Northants with the smaller version it will be interesting who will be in the elven tomorrow. Some of the guys will be hoping it is the start of the next stage of their career.

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Devonboy70
10/08/2026 20:09

3 must plays for me of those who have been rotated , Leach , Pretorius and Perera . Perera has a batting average of 38.6 in the competition compared with Jonny Connell at 15.7 . For some reason Connell hasnt missed a match and Perera has missed the last 2 . If.the selection mishaps continue then we will know that management really do have no real wish for progression to the knock out stages .

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Grockle
10/08/2026 21:03

Certainly think that they had decided we were out before the Surrey match (so did I to be honest) and so checked out a number of options.

The Surey win probably geve them a little bit of false confidence and so they went with much the same for Northants and got their backsides handed to them without Pretorius to help Ball - I think Shaw has made progress but not enough to be honest.

The Perera situation will probably progress one way or the other depending on tomorrow'a batting choices. Not sure what the hell is happening there.

Whether we win or not tomorrow I think we are pretty much cooked at 50 ovver level for 2026.

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Scrumper
10/08/2026 22:07

Maybe if Perera did well they'd have to give him a contract?

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Simon milnes
10/08/2026 22:20

I wonder if they have decided they are not going to give Perera a contract for next year?Connell has done very little, but is the better fielder. May be Perera has now an offer from another county? It is all very odd. . With Craigos wife about to give birth, the rotation of Ball and Pretorius is sensible. Craigo might not be available for the matches against Essex and Sussex. This could end any hopes of a county championship challenge.I understand their baby is due in three weeks?Lots of ifs and buts as usual. I despair if Shaw ends .up playing. Somerset members have put up a lot with the lack of sincere commitment from the management in signing quality replacements for those that have left. Langridge has shown in the Metro he has improved but is way off first eleven championship cricket at the moment.It would be a nice finish to beat Lancashire, and for those picked in the competition it has been a good experiance.

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Cleavo87
11/08/2026 08:37

Disappointed Perera has been omitted in last couple of games as he has done very little wrong. He gave us solid foundation at top of order to post big score.

If Craigo’s wife is due to give birth soon it is even more important that management recruit second overseas bowler. This is our best chance of winning the County Championship since 2019. Do whatever it takes to get Matt Henry to stay on after the Hundred even if it is for 4 of the 6 matches.

Simon you are correct we haven’t replaced Ben Green or Kasey Aldridge. Josh Shaw is essentially replacement for Josh Davey.

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Grockle
11/08/2026 10:11

Morning people

There will be an injury update on the website sometime in the next couple of days.

The stuff I can glean so far is that Thomas Rew has 'done something' to his ankle - no infor about how serious that is.

There will be an update on the Alfie Ogborne injury but it won't say he is going to bowl agian this season

On another point - it looks like Sav Parera will play today but don't quote me on that until 11am.

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Grockle
11/08/2026 10:35

Somerset have won the toss and will bowl first

The Team
Vaughan, Perera, Lammonby, Goldsworthy (c), Thomas, Connell, Church (w), Theedom, Pretorius, Shaw, Langridge

No Jake Ball no Jack Leach no Kian Robertsor Theo Lamey

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Grizzers
11/08/2026 10:55

In six appearances so far, Josh Shaw has taken seven wickets at an average of 40 apiece & a scoring rate of 5.87.

The merits of giving him a three year contract remain well disguised.

Grizzers

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Grockle
11/08/2026 11:52

There are 'rumours' of an international signing as well though no more info than that other than it is NOT Matt Henry

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