Metro Play Off back to Taunton with the Bristolians
By Grockle
August 28 2025
So, some 42 hours after beating Northants at home, we are all back with a new opponent in Gloucestershire to see who can go on to the semi finals. Ludicrous scheduling from the ECB - who don't really care because their focus is on 'Franchise Funland August'. It gets more stupid if it raions because although there is a rain day set up for Friday, the semi final is on SUNDAY and for both sides it will be away!! It's great when your central authority wants nothing more than to minimise the event in the hope no one will notice isn't it? At 10:45 the lights are on but the BBC are here to commentate on the game so things are sort of looking up. Rain is foorecast and if it comes it is suggested that it WILL stay so we'll keep an eye out for that. Somerset will bowl first after losing the toss and they go into this one with the same side as Tuesday... must be like deja vu for them. We can only hope the result is the same!!
Metro 50 PO (or QF) - v Gloucestershire @ Taunton Thursday 28 August 2025
Quick turnaround for the 'Play Off' versus local rivals Gloucestershire back at the County Ground less than two days after celebrating making it this far.
The wicket is the same and the side is the same;
Vaughan, Lammonby, Goldsworthy, Rew J (c and wk), Rew T, Thomas, Hill, Green, Aldridge, Leach, Ball
Gloucestershire have won the toss and elected to bat first. This will be a difficult task for the home side as the visitors have not been particularly affected by the franchise 'draft' and their opening batting pair of Bancroft and Bracey are the tip of a formidable spear including; Price, Charlesworth, Taylor J, Van, Boorman, Ahmed, Shaw (yep THAT Shaw), Miles and Taylor M
Rain is heavly predicted and predicted to be heavy if it arrives but with the lights on we seem to be starting on time at least. We need a 20 over game for it to be a result but Friday is put aside as a possible rain day and there seem to be plans to spread the game over 2 days id necessary. We'll find out more as we go I assume, Anyway, off we go.
Jake Ball is in from the MT for the first and he has a big appeal against Bracey from his first ball. The umpire says it was missing (it was) but second ball the Glos keeper misses one and is bowled without scoring and it is 1 for 0. Jake finishes his first with a maiden. Ben partners him with the first from the River as Ollie Price joins Bancroft. At the end of his over the visitors are still not off the mark.
The finally get a boundary off a hard flash past the slips to the Botham boundary getting Price off the mark. He gets some more and it is 7 after 3. After 5 they have moved the score to 17 with a late boundary off Ball from Bancroft. The game has settled a little and Cameron starts to look good as he puts a huge one into the NT. as the innings picks up moving to 31 from 8.
After 10 overs the visitors have pushed it on to 35 but both Green 5 for 13 and Ball 1 for 22 have done well to hold them. The crowd is pretty sparse to be honest, a smattering of people in most areas of the ground but nothing like the crowds of the league fixtures. It can't be easy to organise on less than 2 days notice to get to an extra fixture in the backend of a week, especially if you were at one just two days earlier.
The 12th over sees the first change as Kasey Aldridge replaces Ben Green at the River end. Bancroft puts him onto roof of the Botham to move the score to 47 after 12. Lammonby makes it a double change from the MT with the 13th and Price takes the single to bring up the 50 from 72 balls with Bancroft on 31 (52) and Price 18 (40).
Aldridge gets the next breakthrough at 56 for 1 in the 14th when Bancroft is fooled by a slower one and pops the ball back to the bowler who bobbles it and takes it at the third attempt. 56 for 2 with Bancroft departing for 34. Charlesworth is his replacement and he is off the mark quickly with a scrabbled four through the diving hands of the Somerset infielder.
Ollie Price becomes Tom Lammonby's first (but not last hopefully) victim at 69 for 3. He's adjudged LBW but it looks possibly high and away from the stumps. Price was probably a little unlucky. But it's done and he is out for 25 and in comes Jack Taylor in the 17th. Lammonby as 12 for 1 after 3 - a good line from our newish 'allrounder' today.
Jack is on for the 19th and he has Taylor underedging for four to go for 5 there was a quite close LBW against Charlesworth as well but it probably makes up for the one that wasn't so close earlier in the innigs. After 20 Gloucestershire have reached 82 for 3 and we have a game on!!
Tom changes ends and again gets his line right straight away though Charlesworth does get one away to the Botham. Excellent boundary fielding by Fin Hill keeps another boundary from happening - he really is a very mobile competent sweeper. Tom then gets Charlesworth who puts a poor shot into Ben Green's hands at 97 for 4 to leave for just a 1. Van Buuren comes in and not long later he simply pops one straight back to the bowler for 0 and it is 97 for 5 with Lammers on 3 for 20 from 5 as we move into the second half of the innings.
The 100 arrives in the 27th for the loss of 5 wickets with Taylor on 18 from 37 and Boorman off the mark on 1. As we move into the 30th over bowled by Kasey Gloucestershire move to 116 for 5.
Lewis comes into the attack for the 31nd over. But it is Jack who finally gets a bit of luck with the first ball after the lights come back on. Boorman gets one on his foot - the only hope he had was that he had hit it. The umpire said he didn't and he is LBW for 9 at 126 for 6.
In comes Ahmed whose job seems to be to support Taylor while he tries to make something of this game by adding to the 42 from 55 he already has. But he fires one straight up heading for the MT boundary. Kasey sees it, keeps his eye on it all the way and takes a stunning catch 8 feet inside the boundary with enough sense to stop himself from a full pelt run so that he does not go over the rope. Brilliant and Gloucestershire are 138 for 7 as Miles comes in to do the same job. Jack Taylor is now the visitor's key to a defendable total in this game one would imagine. Jack goes to 2 for 23 off his 9 with 1 maiden.
With 15 to go we go back to Ben Green from the River and his second ball, nothing special, is simply hit to Kasey in front of the CA and Jack Taylor has gone for 43 from 59 balls. That may be their last hurrah as Matt Taylor arrives at 140 for 8. Jack finishes with 10 overs for 23 and after 38 the score is 141 for 8.
Jake returns from the MT. The first ball of the 39 simply flows past Taylor's bat into the hands of Rew and in comes Josh Shaw as the last man at 146 for 9. The 150 arrives just before the 39th ends as Ball goes to 7 overs 1 maiden 29 for 2. He does the same against Miles and at 157 all out Jake Ball dismisses Miles for 7 from 16 with Shaw not out for 4. Ball finishes with 3 for 30 capping off a really excellent bowling performance from Somerset with some help from some of the Gloucester batting which was a little below par.
The Somerset bowlers share the spoils with Jack, Tom and Jake doing the real damage and we need 156 for a trip to Worcester.
The Reply
Matt Taylor starts the attack against the Somerset openers. Archie is off the mark with a single and a ball later so is Tom. It is 2 for 0 after 1. Josh Shaw (who rumour says we were looking at) takes the next. The black clouds are belting down the valley in from of the Quantocks and we may not be all that long before the promised rain actually arrives. The game needs 20 overs against Somerset and then DLS will decide the result. Shaw's first is a maiden so we are now behind the DLS which stands at 3. It now moves to 4 as Taylor also bowls an over without a score. The run rate is presently 3.3 but the chances of 50 overs is very slim and we need to be wherever DLS is from the 20th over on. Presently in the 4th it is on 5 and we have 4.
On come the lights with 5 overs gone at 15 for 0 (DLS 7) and we are off for rain at 2:22 and this is a significant rain storm so we will be off for quite a time.
An aside to the game is that today was the funeral of Jos Buttler's dad John today so thoughts with the family today on what can't be an easy one.
Back to the game. At 3:40 preparation is nearly finished and the fielding side are on the rope waiting for the cleanup to finish. At 3:45 we are back on with Shaw bowling the 6th over from the River. Seems there is no loss of overs so we continue.
Archie goes for 8 to a phenomenal low one handed catch from Bracey off the bowking of Matt Taylor. 21 for 1 in the 7th. In comes Lewis Goldsworthy who gets his account moving with a single. With 10 overs down we have moved to 39 for 1 with 10 to the new man and Tom on to 18. Lewis shows his intention by putting Matt into the NT for six as we move towards 50.
Miles comes on at the River and we see the "Lammonby of old" as he wafts at his second ball wide of off stump and manages to get a toe end on it and is caught behind. Poor loose shot and it is 47 for 2. Tom goes for 18.
James Rew arrives at the crease in time to move the county past 50 in the 12th over. The run rate is down below 3 but that wicket has moved the DLS from 24 to 39. Van Buuren is on with spin from the MT as peopel in the Hildreth start to put their coats on for the next rain shower. The rain is belting down as they move into the 14th but the rain beats them and they are off at 4:20. The score is 53 for 2 with Goldsworthy on 21 from 23 and James Rew on 2 from 5.
The restart is at 4:44 with 149 as the total from 45 overs.
Off we go again with 32 and a bit overs left and we need 96 runs. The best results would be somewhere just over 20 overs we are ahead on the DLS (presently we have 53 and we need 42) and the rain comes for good.
Van Buuren will continue from the other end and with 30 overs remaining we move into the 60s.
James seems to be a little frustrated as he comes up the wicket to van Buuren and flashes him down to the CA boundary. He then calms down and classicially drives his next ball for a more sedate four. In the next over he smacks the spinner for 6 into the Ondaatje car park. Before the end of the 20th over however the wickets total changes as Lewis turns the bat early on a delivery and pops it straight back to Ahmed in his first over and goes for 27 at 83 for 3. This brings in the second Rew. The DLS has changed to 62
The 20 over is up and now this is a game. There will be no return tomorrow. We have 25 overs to get 63 at 2.5 an over . But James seems to have hit one but is not given out - the sound seemed there as well? Thought he'd gone at 28 from 30... he was damn lucky. Shaw is certainly not impressed with Ian Blackwell.
The 100 arrives in the 23rd over with Thomas on 3 from 8 and his broter and captain on 39 from 40. Ahmed and Shaw are looking to keep them from scoring 49 in the next 22 overs. Thomas steps up and straight drives Ahmed to the CA for six. He is almost caught going aerail the next ball but it goes through Bancoft's one hand to the NT boundary. Would have probably caught it going with two perhaps.
Ollie Price is introduced for the 26th over as Somerset pass 25 on 115 for 3 with Thomas on 16 from 17 and James on 41 from 44. Jack Taylor is a double change and James boundaries him to the Caddyshack as moves to 46. But the change works as he is stumped by Bracey coming up the wicket to a ball he misses. 128 for 4 as Josh Thomas comes out with his side needing 21.
At te end of the 29th at 138 for 4 they need 10 for the tie (and therefore the win) and 11 for the outright win. In the next over Thomas Rew sends another one over the rope without bounding and we are down to not needing a lot and 3 balls into Olllie Price's 4th over and the 32nd of the inninngs, our pair reach the required 149 to take the game by 5 wickets with over 10 overs left in the game.
Thomas Rew ends on 40 from 39 balls with 2 fours and 3 sixes while his partner Josh Thomas has 3 not out.
A comperhensive and sollid win with batting backing up the very good bowling performance. I have no idea why Gloucesershire decided to bat first in dampish conditions with the floodlights one. As someone said at the time "I can give you 10 reasons why they should bowl. I have no idea why they have decided not to!!" We took advantage and we are going to Worcester for the semi final against the home county on Sunday. This excellent 50 over campaign continues.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:08:31:19:10:17 by Grockle.
We face the Bristolians at Taunton on Thursday for that honour and the squad for the game has been announced - well done people with about 18 hours notice!!
Vaughan, Lammonby, Goldsworthy, Rew J, RewT, Thomas, Hill, Green, Roberts, Aldridge, Ogborne, Ball, Leach
Effectively the Northants team without Langridge (who did not bowl after his initial spell I believe) and with Ogborne, Roberts and Leach
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:08:27:20:51:22 by Grockle.
Jack Taylor (c), Ahmed, Akhtar, Bancroft, Boorman, Bracey, Charlesworth, Miles, Phillips, Price, Shaw, Syed, Matt Taylor, van Buuren.
The side;
Vaughan, Lammonby, Goldsworthy, Rew J (c and wk), Rew T, Thomas, Hill, Green, Aldridge, Leach and Ball
So no change from Tuesday.
Grizzers
Grizzers
We need 20 overs and then to stay above the DLS is rain is about. There is no loss of overs so we just go on.
No disrespect to the man on this one showing but there is nothing there presently that would say - "gosh he's useful hope he becomes available" It may change but there's nothing there at the moemnt.
Struggle to understand why Gloucester chose to bat.
Stiffer test on Sunday methinks.
Grizzers
I took from that conversation that he’s ok, especially in white-ball, but not going to enhance our CC title chances.
Great result today, also baffled Gloucs chose to bat, good bowling from all especially Jake, Jack and TomL. We mustn’t take either of these Rews for granted, either.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
It was men against boys today - and the boys won.
Thomas Rew
James Rew 4 runs
Graeme Vanbuuren c&b Tom Lammonby
Cameron Bancroft c&b Kasey Aldridge
Cameron Bancroft 6 runs
Ben Charlesworth ct Ben Green bld Tom Lammonby
A good easy win between the shower.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
I know this article is behind paywall. I subscribe to The Times mainly for Michael Atherton though Steve James and Simon Wilde are decent too. I do resent the thought that even a penny of mine augments the Murdoch Empire but you buy nothing if you are overpicky.
I would be more encouraged by the Lancashire youngsters if they were actually getting any experience of winning. Losing is a bad habit and Lancashire does seem to ruin a lot of young players.
Somerset, get a good mention in the article. I was thinking the other day that when the Rews came together, you just tend to think “they will sort it out” and they nearly always do. Very difficult not to put impossibly high expectations on them.
In a column on promise and the future, let’s end on an upbeat note: if you are in the West Country on Thursday, find out if there are tickets available at Taunton and watch Thomas Rew, 17 years old, and one of the most spectacular young talents around.
_____
I'm glad to say I took the Times' advice (though I hadn't actually read the advice at the time) and coughed up £15 yesterday. I'm sure that plenty of others would have too, if not for the UK Met Office's duff, doom-laden forecast (the iPhone app got the limited window for rain spot-on).
Thomas Rew really is special, and his presence seems to have invigorated and expanded his big brother's batting range at the same time. Competition is always a great thing.
Considering the cost of staging the day.
Stewarding, the clubs and the private firm. Plus the floodlights, does anybody think the club made any money on the day?
If you want to moan about the attendance maybe direct it to the schedule set by the governing body. Any plans made by any of the clubs had to be put in place within about 42 hours. Given it was a game arranged on less than 2 days notice on a working weekday I'm amazed anyone not retired turned up.
Think the concept of the club offering a member discount to say "thank you" ought to be on a game where a significant number of members could take advantage of it.
Had they offered it here I'm sure we would have been reading a post from you complaining that they only did it because they knew no one would be able to take advantage of it
Still not their fault that the system puts them in that position and whatever plans were made - the public did NOT have their plans in place 'weeks in advance' so how many of the people there yesterday had already booked the day off work etc?
It was going to be a mess whatever happened and they did quite well to put anything in place at all as they aren't the besty organised club in the world as we are all made aware some of the time.
During the competition, I was approached by two people asking for information (they thought my membership card on a lanyard might indicate I was a staff member) who were attending the ground for the first time and had come as members for the day. Both were highly complimentary about what they were experiencing and I enjoyed being a steward for a minute.
I have had experience over the years of organising events from time to time, although nothing on the scale of a cricket match at a first-class venue, although I was once (a long time ago) responsible for organising two conferences at The Oval Conference Centre. Be assured, the Club did brilliantly yesterday and throughout this competition. As to the short notice confirmation that Somerset would have a match at Taunton yesterday, be also assured, there would have been some high-pressure, intense work involved in 'activating' any plan once the match was confirmed, and the fact that it was activated so successfully is a measure of how well the planning was done in the first place.
Farmer
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
It was great that the Hundred took so many players which gave our promising younger ones the chance to shine in the spotlight.