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Jones To Fore As Somerset Win Again

Mon 24 Mar, 12:14 AM


Captain Steffan Jones helped Somerset maintain their 100% record in the Pro Arabian Cricket Challenge as Sussex's top order was blitzed.

Seamer Jones did considerable damage with the new ball and came back to wrap up the Sharks' innings for 220, finishing with figures of five for 33.

Having already successfully chased scores against Essex and the United Arab Emirates, Somerset made it a hat-trick - this time by four wickets - thanks to good starts to both innings.

Peter Trego and Carl Gazzard - a new-look opening duo formed in the absence of Marcus Trescothick - shared 130 for the first wicket.

All-rounder Trego crashed 94, including 10 fours and a six, before being held at long-off from the bowling of James Kirtley.

Gazzard failed to reach a half-century for the first time in three Pro ARCH innings, falling four short, when he chipped a return catch to off-spinner Ollie Rayner - but he took his competition tally to 163.

From a position of 181 for one in the 38th over, however, Somerset's run rate was suffocated by the slow stuff as left-armer Tom Smith and off-spinner Rory Hamilton-Brown claimed two wickets each.

Earlier, Sussex's spin trio were among those who impressed with the bat as part of a dramatic recovery from 48 for five.

Jones' bustle accounted for Matt Prior, Chris Adams, Chris Nash and Carl Hopkinson in his initial burst - and only disciplined efforts from Hamilton-Brown (37) and wicketkeeper Ben Brown (40) realigned things.

From a position of 127 for seven in the 34th over, Rayner and Smith combined to ensure a competitive total.

It was off-spinner Omari Banks who took the greatest punishment, three times struck for six down the ground - twice by Rayner, who fell for 42.

Smith, who scalped Andrew Flintoff and Stuart Law earlier in the week with his left-arm spin, finished unbeaten on 46.

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