SOMERSET went down by the narrowest of margins in the 2nd XI Trophy final against Middlesex at the County Ground on Monday.

They lost one run in agonising fashion after being bowled out with five balls to spare, chasing the visitors' 198.

After choosing to bat first, the visitors lost an early wicket before Eoin Morgan and Billy Godleman (69) added 142 for the second wicket.

Irish international Morgan was then stumped by Carl Gazzard off Wes Durston for 85.

Middlesex then suffered a dramatic collapse as they were bowled out for to 198 with four overs of their 50 remaining.

Their last eight wickets fell for the addition of just 50 runs, mostly to the left arm spin of Arul Suppiah who ended with the impressive figures of 5-40 off his ten overs.

When Somerset batted they were soon in trouble and, by the seventh over had slipped to 26-3, as Matt Wood, Wes Durston and skipper Keith Parsons were all dismissed cheaply.

John Francis then played a major part in helping to rebuild the innings, taking the total onto 62 before Suppiah was caught and bowled by Chris Peploe for 29.

Francis then added 48 for the fifth wicket with Gazzard, before the keeper was out for 25. Robin Lett was run out cheaply after a mix up, but Francis remained at the wicket to see Somerset onto 137 before finally perishing for 57.

Gareth Andrew batted bravely, but Somerset were not helped by losing two further wickets to run outs, before the all-rounder was joined by Andy Sutton with the total on 169-9.

Needing 31 to win, the pair set about their task sensibly and went into the final over needing one run to win.

Sadly it wasn't to be as Sutton was bowled by Robbie Williams' first delivery and Somerset were all out for 197, Andrew remaining unbeaten on 39.

After the match Parsons said: "Middlesex got off to a great start, before our spinners clawed the game back for us. They bowled beautifully to get them out for 198 which we were happy with at half time.

"We then lost three early wickets which didn't help us but there were still several stages in the chase that we were back in front, so in the end it was very disappointing to lose after getting so close.

"John Francis did a cracking job for us and his dismissal was probably one of the turning points of the game because we had got ourselves back in front.

"Gareth played very well towards the end, so without those two we wouldn't have even got close.

"It was just a shame that in the end we left too much for the last batsmen to do."