SOMERSET came within a whisker of recording one of their most dramatic one-day victories in a high scoring Royal London One-Day cup match against Kent at Taunton yesterday.

Once Kent had rattled up an imposing 383 from their 50 overs, there was barely a soul in the ground who thought the Cidermen could match their efforts.

And when the eighth wicket fell with106 still needed from just nine overs, the task looked impossible.

But Tim Groenewald (52* from 27 balls) and Alfonso Thomas (49* from 29) refused to give up.

And when Mitch Claydon ran in to bowl the last ball of the match to Groenewald, four runs would have given the Ciderman victory.

But Claydon fired the ball into Groenewald’s pads and the Somerset pair could only scramble a leg bye.

Kent’s Sam Billings had earlier smashed 135 not out in just 58 balls after fine bowling by Jack Leach and Peter Trego had left Kent wobbling at 166-6 in 33 overs.