Royal London One-Day Cup

Somerset 74 lost to Derbyshire 134-7 by 29 runs (D/L method)

SOMERSET’S Royal London One-Day Cup campaign started with a 29-run defeat in a rain-reduced match against Derbyshire at Taunton on Sunday

Somerset won the toss and elected to field, in a match reduced to 14 overs per side - but the visitors made a quick-fire start courtesy of Hamish Rutherford and Wes Durston.

Shiv Thakor and Wayne Madsen added 38 for the fifth wicket, with captain Madsen top scoring with 45 off 27 balls.

The Derbyshire skipper was caught at extra cover off the final ball of the 13th over before Tom Poynton and Alex Hughes progressed the visitors’ total to 134-7.

Somerset’s reply was hampered first by another shower – and then by Derbyshire’s opening bowlers Mark Footitt and Ben Cotton.

Footitt had captain Jim Allenby caught at point by Madsen before Cotton bowled Adam Hose for seven with the score at 10-2.

After the rain break, Somerset were left to chase a revised target of 104 in 10 overs.

Peter Trego perished without scoring, Tom Cooper struck a number of lusty blows before skying - and in Greg Cork’s first over, Gregory and Craig Overton were both out, for four and 0 respectively.

Somerset were eventually bowled out for 74 to give the visitors the win by 29 runs (D/L method).

Somerset’s director of cricket, Matthew Maynard said: “Obviously it was a shortened game and we haven’t been playing very well in the T20 format and I think that showed again today.

“We are disappointed we didn’t get the full 50 overs, but we will practice hard on Tuesday in preparation for the game against Durham on Wednesday.

“I thought we looked frenetic today with the bat. When you have a chase that starts before the rain, you lose a wicket then have to come off, it’s difficult. We came back needing 11 an over and we just felt that we couldn’t get away with another couple of slow overs.

“We didn’t get anyone batting for more than 10 or 11 balls. We needed someone to bat for 25 balls and get a solid 50.”