Vitality Blast - South Group

Somerset 136-0 beat Essex 135-9 by 10 wkts

JOHANN Myburgh fired an extraordinary 42-ball century as Somerset routed Essex by 10 wickets to seal a third successive Vitality Blast victory.

Myburgh and his new opening partner Tom Banton made light work of a chase of 136 as Somerset wrapped up victory with 52 balls to spare following fine work by the bowlers, with Jamie Overton (3-22) the standout.

READ MORE: As it happened - Somerset smash Essex by 10 wickets

The 37-year-old's innings was all the more remarkable in the context of his lean start to this season's competition - he had scored just 129 runs in eight innings prior to this match - but there are few better batsmen to watch than Myburgh when he is in full flow.

Having taken a few balls to assess the pitch, which was being used for the third time in the space of a week, Myburgh moved through the gears and took 18 from Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa's first four deliveries.

He then greeted Matt Coles with three successive boundaries and did likewise in Peter Siddle's next over as the score rocketed along, Myburgh reaching his half-century - 46 of which came in boundaries - in just 22 balls.

From there the carnage continued, with Myburgh flaying boundaries all round the County Ground to the delight of a vocal support who saved their loudest cheer for the firm punch through extra cover which took the batsman to three figures.

That shot was representative of a knock which was not simply slogging - there were enough 'proper' strokes to please the purist, while he was also able to clear the ropes with ease.

It was left to Banton to hit the winning run from the second ball of the 12th over as Myburgh walked off unbeaten on 103 from 44 deliveries, having hit 16 fours and three sixes.

This was perhaps the ideal scenario for Banton to make his first T20 appearance of the season, chasing a small target with Myburgh at his best at the other end, and the youngster showed enough glimpses of his talent despite playing second fiddle.

The final ball of the first over was scooped for an audacious six over fine leg, while he also took on Zampa and sent a reverse sweep whistling to the boundary - the 19-year-old finished with 29 not out from 25 balls.

That the target was so small was down to fine work with the ball and in the field by the hosts, who had lost the toss and been asked to bowl first.

Jamie Overton set the tone with two wickets in as many overs early on before spinners Max Waller (0-30) and Roloef van der Merwe (1-22) successfully applied the brakes in the middle overs - Essex did not score a boundary between the fourth ball of the sixth over and the last ball of the ninth.

The visitors' chances of posting a competitive score all but ended when Varun Chopra, who hit the only six of the Essex innings on his way to a top score of 43, was run out having been sent back by debutant Michael Pepper to leave the score 85-4.

Pepper went on to make a scratchy 27 before becoming the first of three wickets to fall to Jerome Taylor (3-28) in the final over of the innings, and Essex's total of 135-9 never looked like being enough even before Myburgh's blitz.

The visitors, who only finished their match with Kent after 10pm yesterday and then had to make it from Canterbury to Taunton for a 4.3pom start, looked understandably jaded and were sloppy in the field having not got going with the bat.

That notwithstanding, tonight was Myburgh's night - a special innings which will live long in the memory of those fortunate enough to witness it.

Speaking afterwards, Myburgh said: "I thoroughly enjoyed it. When you go out there chasing a low-ish score it gives you a bit of freedom at the top because you know if you get off to a good start you can wrap the game up pretty quickly.

"I wanted to give myself a few balls to see how the pitch was playing but then I wanted to take them on and get the ball rolling.

"I like to put the opposition under pressure - I think that's how you have to play in T20 - and that is always our mindset. We have a well balanced side and it makes my job at the top very clear.

"It's always nice to play like that. The ball came off the middle of the bat most of the time and went in the general area of where I wanted to hit it. It doesn't always happen like that, so it's special when it does."

Next up for Somerset is a trip to Hove to face Susesx on Sunday.