Somerset
Metrobank 4 Down to Kent
By Grockle
July 31 2026
Off to Canterbury for the fourth game in the Metrobank series. 16 year old Theo Lamey makes his debut while Jake Ball is rested in Joe Denley's last game for his county. Kent have won the toss and will field first. Jake Ball is rested we assume while Migael Pretorius returns to the bowling attack.
Metrobank Game 4 v Kenty @ Canterbury Friday 31 July 2026
Off to Canterbury for the fourth game in this year's 50 over competition. Kent win the toss and decide to field first. The Somerset side is starting to settle into a steady eleven with a few rota'd players and debutants.
The eleven is;
Vaughan, Perera, Lammonby, Goldsworthy (c), Thomas, Connell, Lamey, Church (wk), Pretorius, Shaw, Theedom
James Theedom keeps his place after a good start on Sunday in Taunton. Theo Lamey debuts at the age of 16 after signing a short Metro50 contract earlier this week. Jake Ball and JT Langridge take a breather and Migael Pretorius returns. This is Joe Denley's last game for Kent and they expect a good crowd for this Friday.
Vaughan and Perera start facing Matt Milnes in the first over and they take a late single as Archie steals the strike. Keith Dudgeon takes the second and Archie gets the first four early in the second. Unfortunately, that is it for Vaughan today with the bat as he gets an edge to the keeper off the 10 th ball of the innings. He goes caught Benjamin bowled Dudgeon for 5 at 5 for 1 bringing Tom Lammonby to the crease early which is quite normal to be honest up to now!! He survives the over and sees Sav put the ball to the boundary off an edge from Milnes and Somerset are 10 for 1 after 3.
Lammonby gets off the mark with a boundary in the fourth from Milnes and as we move onto the 7th the visitors have moved on to 27 for 1 before the Kent livestream hits a glitch which makes it loop for ages. Kent were trying to charge for their livestream coverage a couple of years ago and found the kickback was extensive. Their stream then was not great and it does not seem to have improved as fans have to move to the scorecards online to get any kind of idea of progress. The ads keep going of course. It's just the action that stops.
As we move to the end of the 9th over and Milnes continues with his 5th. Somerset seem to have settled a bit and reached 31. Dudgeon also continues with his 5th and after 10 we have moved on to 35 with a single boundary to Sav in that over. The first 'Powerplay' is over.
Grant Stewart (12th) and Ekansh Singh (13th) come on as the change pair of Kent bowlers. A boundary from Lammonby in the 14th from Stewart takes the county to 50 with Perera on 22 from 37 and Lammers on 21 from 34. Another four at the end of the over takes the pair to a 49 run partnership. A Singh wide gives them the 50 off 73 balls as they look to move up a gear.
After 16 they have progressed to 70 without further loss. Tom most definitely has moved up a level as he goes to 42 from 48 but he then hooks Stewart straight to Singh at 85 for 1 picking out the one man on the short boundary. In comes the skipper and on comes the spin of Parkinson in the 19th. Lewis is off the mark with a couple.
Dudgeon returns to bowl the 20th at 90 for 2 after only going for 18 off the 5 overs of his first spell. He only concedes 2 and we finish the second 10 overs at 92 with Sav moving to 37 from 50 while the captain has moved to 5 from 11. Parkinson will continue.
The 100 arrives from Goldsworthy with a drive to the boundary in the 22nd. 101 for 2 off Dudgeon. We reach 25 at 119 without further loss. Perera has moved to 48 from 63 and Lewis has 21 from 28
Savin carves Singh for four in the 26th to move to 53 with 6 fours from 66 balls. His seventh four comes from his 67 ball What a good signing he has been, personally I hope he will stay around.
A round of applause arrives as a leggie replaces a leggie at the Knackington Road end with Joe Denley coming on to bowl at 130 for 2 in the 27th. The 50 partnership arrives from 57 balls at 135 with 24 to Perera and 26 to the skipper.
The crowd announcement is that 3000 are in for the game - a very good crowd for a Kent match (max is 5000) and a good indication that the Metrobank 50 is well attended in a lovely summer like this. The 150 arrives in the 30th off Stewart's sixth and at 30 we have 151. The rule is that you usually double the score with 20 overs to go.
Denly continues with the 31st and Goldsworthy might be setting out the next phase of the game with the first six of the innings off the legspinner from the second ball. Stewart continues at the other end. Denly is the man who breaks through with probably the worst ball he bowls as Sav looks to drive a straight full toss and manages to drive it straight back to the bowler. He is caught and bowled for 75 when the 100 was on. But it is a base at 171 for 3. 75 from 87 - another excellent knock from the new man.
Josh Thomas is the next man in at the start of the 34th over. He watches Lewis go to 50 from 55 at 177 for 3 with 3 fours and 1 six. Good point that with only 4 boundaries he has produced a nearly a run a ball 50 by pushing the ones into twos etc. Thomas gets off the mark with a single.
Parkinson returns for the 35th from the Knackington Road. Wemove towards 200 and in the 39th courtesy of a six from Thomas off the returning Milnes and then second one Somerset move to 205 for 3 as Josh effectively trebles his score in 3 balls.
In the 39th Parkinson gets some of the same treatement but from the other end as Lewis takes him for 10 off 2 balls and the score moves on by 13 in the over. Kent try Stewart (who has 2 left and has 52 for 1 from his previous 8) for the 40th who seems to be their man who bowls wide at the end of the innings. He gets smacked for four on one, gets away with another and is called for the third. It's 228 for 3 with 10 to go. Goldsworthy has 72 from 70 and Thomas has 27 from 24. Parkinson continues into his 8th.
Stewart bowls out in the 42nd and will finish with 1 for 75 from his 10. Somerset have moved to 246 for 3 with Goldsworthy on 84 from 78 and Thomas on 31 from 28. 8 overs to go and 4 runs from the 250 as Parkinson bowls his 9th at 0 for 39. The 250 arrives from his 4th ball and he concedes 6 from the over.
Dudgeon returns for the 44th and Josh is going for it as he sends his second ball for six and then ramps him for four. Unfortunately Lewis misreads the pace of the next ball and he scoops the ball to Milnes for 87 from 82 at 265 for 4 an excellent follow up to his century from the captain. However, this may have put the brakes on the Somerset innings as that is the end of the experienced bats. In comes Johnny Connell with a lot on him to help Josh keep the score going forward. Connell gets of the mark with a single. 266 for 4 with 6 remaining and a lot is riding on Josh being there at the end of this innings.
Parkinson's first ball goes for four from the new man. Johnny tries the same with the next ball and Dawkins catches this one. Connell goes for 5 at 270. Not what the visitors needed. In comes Lamey for his debut with a big ask for a 16 year old in his first professional game. He's off the mark with a single. Josh then goes to a very good 50 from 37 balls with 2 fours and 3 sixes. He steals the strike as Parkinson finishes his spell with 1 for 55.
With 5 to go it is 276 for 5 as Dudgeon bowls his 9th. The run rate may mean that with the loss of Goldsworthy Somerset may fall short of the 300 total they looked nailed on for at the start of the 40s. Josh is looking to keep it going though he's heaving a little more and placing a little less. It's 284 with 4 to go after a 'farmer' type four at the end of the over. Kent go with Denly at the Knackington for the 47th against the 16 year old. He simply keeps taking the singles however letting his experienced partner take the risks. Lamey goes up the wicket to try and belt it but he gets a toe end and a single. 289 with 3 to go with Milnes coming on for his last spell of the innings.
Thomas tries to go over Finch but he dies at 60 from 45 at 290 for 6 as the fielder catches it. He had to go for it to be honest. Now Pretorius arrives needing to show something he is known for but hasn't done much of this season - the long handle boundary. Migael looks to hook his first and it hits him on the back of the neck and goes for nothing. He'll be concussion checked though he doesn't look in any kind of problem.
We recommence and the next goes for four and then they take 2. Pretorius goes BIG but is caught on the boundary for 6 from 3 caught by Dudgeon on the square boundary as Church walks out with 2 overs remaining. Joe Denly is chosen to bowl his last professional over with the 48th of this innings. Lamey takes a single but Church goes for the slog sweep to Finch and the 'old retainer' gets a wicket at 297 for 8. The keeper leaves without scoring as Josh Shaw strides out. He takes a single and then Lamey reverses him to the boundary to bring up the 300. He cloths the next one for another single. Denly's final ball also goes for a single and the old professional finishes with 6 overs 42 for 2.
The last over is from Milnes at 304 for 8. Shaw is facing. They take two off the first. He takes a single off the second. Theo steers the next around the corner for 1. Josh then digs out a yorker. Lamey then tries another reverse but is hit on the toe and is given LBW for 14 from 13 at 309 for 9. Last man Theedom is in for the last ball. The left hander smacks him for four to take his side to 313 for 9. Josh is not out for 6 and Kent need 314.
Joe Denly walks off through a guard of honour from both sides. A fitting tribute for an excellent professional at the end of a very good county career.
The Reply
Dawkins and Bell-Drummond face Josh Shaw first up for Somerset and he starts well with a maiden over. Miggy P takes the second and he bowls a wide first but that is all he provides to the batting side in his first over until the 5th ball when they take a single to move to 2 for 0 after two.
The first boundary comes from the Kent captain in the third but the new ball pair are tight and it is only 8 for 0 after 4. They double it in the 5th. It stays tight until the 7th when Bell-Drummond finally lets loose and sixes Josh into the flats on the short boundary to move to 16 from 22. Dawkins also sixes Shaw in the over so they end the 7th a little better off with 30 for no loss taking 13 off the over.
After 9 the Kent bats have redressed the balance a little as they reach 46 with over 30 of those coming from Shaw in his later overs. Pretorius has only gone for 9 from his 4 as he takes the 10th. They go past 50 with a Bell-Drummond four at the end of the next tto finish the first 'Powerplay' at 52 without loss.
The skipper brings himself and the spin attack into the game with the 11th and he hopes the 'press' is on as he holds the Kent pair to 3. He keeps Miggy on at the other end for at least another one. The decision is rewarded by an over that only goes for 1. He almost holds the line himself in his next until Dawkins gets hold of the 5th ball and smokes it for six. However he comes back with his last and dismisses Dawkins for 30 from 38 caught and bowled 64 for 1 with a ball that did little. He just drove it straight back to a man that doesn't drop them.
In comes that perennial bat Sam Northeast as Theedom takes over for the 14th. Northeast gets off the mark in a tight over with a single and the young Somerset bowler holds the new Kent pair to 70 for 1. After 15 Kent have 73 and the bowling attack is doing the job for their county as the home side are scoring at less than 5 and the RRR is moving towards 7. It's not a problem yet but the pressure is growing as the RRR rises. Somerset do still need to break partnerships though because they are what erodes the score as bats set a base to accelerate.
The equation of Somerset bowlers is interesting today. One would say that the visitors are a seam bowler light in a side where one of those picked could be very expensive if that version turns up ioin the day. There seems to be a lot of faith in James Theedom to hold an end tight and he will have to use a lot of his spin attack with that unless Tom Lammonby is looking to decrease the reliance on asking Theo Lamey to bowl a significant part of 10 overs.
In the 18th James holds the Kent captain under his 50 at 49 with the score moving up to 88 for 1. Theedom has gone for 17 from his 3 so far. Bell - Drummond takes a single for his 50 from 63 balls with 4 fours and a six. Kent are definitely in this game while that man is in the middle. The question from a Somerset point of view is not the number of runs needing to be scored but, who is going to take the wickets that they need to disrupt the Kent move to a winning total?
20 overs gone and Kent have reached 98 for 1 with Northeaast on 13 from 17 and Bell-Drummond has 52 from 65. Tom Lammonby is introduced for the 21st and the 200 arrives from a Kent captain six off the second ball to move his side to 104 for 1 over Long Off. It's 107 when Archie Vaughan is also introduced for the first time with the 22nd. It's 'Nelson' as Lammonby continues and the 50 partnership arrives off 56 with 33 from the skipper and 16 from his partner at 114 for 1. As we move to 2 overs before the halfway point Kent have moves to 119 for 1 and the important part of that is the 9 wickets still in hand.
At 25 it is pretty comfortable for Kent and Bell-Drummond is looking very dangerous but there is some hope as Northeast is given out caught off a bottom edge for 18 from 28 at 135 for 2 from the last ball of the first half of the innings. The scorecard says 'stumped' buit the video suggests he was not out of his ground and he was given out by the square leg umpire. In comes Finch to start the second half of this chase. The commentators are right in saying that it is all about wickets here. If Somerset don't disrupt the scoring with bats falling then Kent will reach this score. 178 to get from the next 150 balls as Vaughan bowls the 26th.
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Vaughan
Perera
Thomas
Lammonby
Goldsworthy
Connelly
Church
Pretorius
Lamey
Shaw
Theedom
Ball
Langridge
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2026:07:30:17:35:05 by Grockle.
Kent squad; Bell-Drummond (capt.), Benjamin, Dawkins, Jaydn Denly, Joe Denly, Dudgeon, Evison, Finch, Milnes, Northeast, Parkinson, Quinn, Ekansh Singh, Jas Singh, Stewart.
P.S. The inclusion of Sam Northeast in the squad reminds me of the story of his appearance for Kent against Durham a few moons ago. Durham at the time were sponsored by the North East Electricity Board, but there was only room on their shirts for `North East`. Kent just had the name of the player on their shirts, and when Sam Northeast came out to bat he was ordered by the umpires to return to the dressing room and change, otherwise there would be 12 players on the field with the North East identity.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Harry Everett will be visiting the box later on I believe.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:07:31:11:34:04 by MisterMurph.
Would seem a competitive score.
Third game I’ve seen in the past week and in each it’s been a surprise when Lammonby has got out - should have got at least one hundred.
Looking forward to seeing Lamy bowl - the side looks a little light in terms of bowling so assume he will get quite a few overs.
Not sure who in the bowling attack is gong to take the wickets SOmerset need to disrupt this Kent progress towards the total. They are bowling tightly but I'm not sure where the scalps are coming from given that we will not return to Pretorius or Shaw until the late 30s into the 40s one would expect.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
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