SOMERSET Sabres’ hopes of winning Division One of the Pro40 suffered a serious setback as they went down by five wickets against Hampshire Hawks at the County Ground on Sunday.

In front 4,000 fans, Somerset posted a disappointing 197-8, and Hampshire cruised to a revised target with more than an overs to spare.

It was the Cidermen’s third defeat from five games and coach Andy Hurry made no excuses. He said: “After last weeks exciting victory this was a thoroughly disappointing performance in all departments.

“We lost wickets at key stages, but we did have a good recovery partnership between Hildreth and Durston that was really encouraging.

“Unfortunately, analysing our innings we had 129 dot balls which is just not acceptable and in the last five overs we only scored 19 runs which means we had no momentum going into the field.

“When we bowled, apart from Charl Willoughby, we didn’t execute our skills which is something we have to work on.

“We looked flat and looked like we were tired and that can’t be an excuse because we are looking to compete and win competitions at the business end of the season.

“We have to be stronger than that mentally and today I thought that we were weak.

“Whatever the situation at half time we have got to go out there and give it everything to try to win the game of cricket.

“I am not saying that we didnt try to win, but the energy levels and the skills execution was not as good as the standard we require.”

Somerset chose to bat first and Marcus Trescothick hit 25 off just 13 balls, including four fours and a six to get the innings off to a flying start before getting out with the total on 41.

With the departure of Trescothick, the run rate dropped. Justin Langer scored 40 off 55 balls while Craig Kieswetter took 24 balls to score five before being out with the score on 71.

Billy Taylor, who ended with 3-23, then removed Langer with the total on 76 and Zander de Bruyn as the Sabres slipped to 87-4.

Former Millfield duo James Hildreth and Wes Durston then added 82 to give the crowd something to cheer about, as leg- spinner Imaran Tahir’s six overs went for 47 runs.

However, with the score on 169, Durston was dismissed for 42, which came off 50 balls, while Hildreth stayed took the total onto 179 before he was out for 47 from 53 balls to help the Sabres reach 197-9.

When the Hawk’s replied, Steffan Jones removed Michael Lumb with the score on 17, before Michael Carberry (29) and Jimmy Adams added 51 for the second wicket.

With the total on 88-2 there was a rain interruption and when they players returned the Hawks were chasing a revised total of 186 off 37 overs.

Jimmy Adams and Chris Benham rarely looked troubled and brought up the 100 in the 22nd over. The third wicket pair took the total onto 163, before Benham was stumped off Omari Banks for 35.

By this stage however the game was all but over and, despite Alfonso Thomas and Jones claiming a wicket each near the end, Dimitri Mascarenhas hit the winning boundary off his first ball to see the Hawks home with seven balls to spare.