SOMERSET Sabres remain in real danger of being relegated after a thrilling tie against Worcestershire Royals in the day-night Pro40 match at the County Ground yesterday (Wednesday).

A four from Daryl Mitchell on the last ball of the game, bowled by man of the match Mark Turner, levelled the scores for the visitors to the dismay of the majority of the 5,300 crowd.

Both sides took a point from the clash but that did little to ease the relegation worries of either side.

Somerset remain fourth from bottom, one place above the danger zone, but only have one match left, while the sides below have three. The Sabres are on five points, Worcestershire four, Middlesex and Lancashire three.

The bottom two sides are automatically relegated and the side above plays off against the third-placed side in Division Two for a place in the top flight.

Somerset coach Andy Hurry said: “We managed to claw ourselves back with great spells of bowling from Mark Turner, Charl Willoughby at times and Alfonso Thomas really got us back in the game.

“To get down to the last over and the last ball it was obviously a disappointing and frustrating end for us really.

“We talked about it after the game and basically feel that our ground fielding let us down and our fielding in general. We are better than that but ultimately that cost us the game.

“Being realistic we are now in a bit of trouble in the competition. We have played some good cricket in places but have not been consistent enough and ruthless in finishing games off and that is obviously frustrating for me and obviously the players.”

In a match that turned one way then the next, Somerset appeared to be out of contention as Worcestershire reached 181-0 after 22 overs in reply to Somerset’s 298-6.

Pete Trego came in for particular punishment, going for 50 from four overs.

But that quickly became 199-3 as Steve Davies was stumped off Omari Banks for a 60-ball knock of 92, Stephen Moore was run out and Turner bowled skipper Vikram Solanki for a fine 94 from 81 deliveries.

Zander de Bruyn bowled Ben Smith with the score on 244 but Worcestershire looked to be easing home with Graham Hick (40), who had been dropped twice, and Moeen Ali (21). However, Thomas turned the game on its head by dismissing both in successive balls in the penultimate over with the score on 287.

The Royals needed 12 from the final over bowled by the recalled Turner, who had gone for just 36 from his previous seven.

He started with a wide but conceded just a single from the next three balls leaving the visitors requiring 10 from three.

Former England spinner Gareth Batty hit the next through point for four and a single from the fifth ball left Mitchell needing a four off the last to force a tie.

His sweep beat Willougby’s despairing dive at short fine leg and reached the boundary to the dismay of Somerset’s fans and players.

Earlier in the afternoon, Justin Langer won the toss and opted to bat.

After losing Langer early on, Marcus Trescothick and Craig Kieswetter picked up from where they left off on Saturday.

In just under nine overs they raced onto 90, before Trescothick was caught off former team-mate Gareth Andrew for 55, which came off 55 balls and included eight fours and two sixes.

Zander de Bruyn then joined Kieswetter and the young ‘keeper brought his own half century up in the 15th over off just 38 balls.

The third wicket pair had put on 99 when de Bruyn was bowled by Andrew Harris for 45 with the score on 189 in the 23rd over.

Somerset looked on course to score well in excess of 300, but the rate slowed considerably as Kieswetter got bogged down until he was eventually leg before to Imran Arif for 89 off 82 balls, which included nine fours and three sixes.

Despite the best efforts of Trego who made 32 off 21 balls and Wes Durston who hit 60 off 55 balls the innings failed to accelerate in the way it was expected and the final 20 overs added only 129 runs as the innings ended on 298-6.