THIS week we bring you the final part of our look back at Somerset’s three consecutive Twenty20 Cup finals between 2009 and 2011.

Having been runners-up in each of the last two seasons, Somerset set out to go one better in 2011, but they only just made it past the group stage.

They finished behind Hampshire Royals, Sussex Sharks and Kent Spitfires in the South Group, but secured fourth spot with two more points than Surrey Lions.

The quarter-finals took them to Trent Bridge, where Nottinghamshire Outlaws were seen off by six wickets.

Notts made 169-5, with Alfonso Thomas and a young Lewis Gregory taking two wickets apiece.

Craig Kieswetter scored 49 in reply, then it was over to Jos Buttler and Kieron Pollard to add 66 off just 26 balls to secure a six-wicket victory with five balls to spare.

Finals Day, on August 27, was back at Edgbaston after a switch to the Rose Bowl in 2010, and the semi-finals pitted Somerset against Hampshire - who had edged them out in the final the year before, courtesy of having lost fewer wickets in reaching the same total.

Somerset County Gazette:

ALL-ROUNDER: Somerset's Kieron Pollard

This time it was the Cidermen who claimed victory, although the margins were just as close.

The match suffered several rain interruptions, but Hampshire eventually reached 138-4 off 15.5 overs, with Shahid Afridi top scoring with 80 before being bowled by Thomas.

The rain left Somerset chasing a reduced target of 95 runs off 10 overs, and when the first three overs saw the total on 40 they looked to be cruising.

A cruise it was not to be, and five runs were needed off the last over... but they could only muster four, as man of the match Buttler was out for 32 off 16 balls.

The game was decided on a ‘Super Over’ eliminator, where Somerset managed 16 and Hampshire could only reply with five.

Somerset faced Leicestershire Foxes in the final, their opponents having beaten Lancashire in another Super Over!

The day ended with a third successive final defeat for the Cidermen, but many will feel that they could and should have won, especially as they were chasing what appeared a modest target of 145.

Steve Kirby replaced George Dockrell for Somerset in the final and repaid the faith shown in him by having Josh Cobb caught by Pollard with the total on 24.

After five overs the Foxes were 42-1, and at the halfway stage it was 78-1. Opener Abdul Razzaq looked to be set for a big score, but on 33 he gave a return catch to Pollard to leave Leicestershire on 94-2 in the 12th over.

Wickets then tumbled, and after 15 overs it was 104-5, then 127-6 in the 19th, before 12 runs came off the last over.

Somerset County Gazette:

TALENT: A young Jos Buttler in action in 2011

Come the reply, Trescothick made his way to 31 before being caught off Matthew Hoggard, and Kieswetter perished with the score on 42.

New batsman James Hildreth brought up the 50 in the ninth over, but at the halfway stage Somerset still needed 88 from 60 balls.

Hildreth and Peter Trego took the score onto 84, when the former was caught on the boundary, and Pollard’s departure left Somerset struggling on 89-4.

Trego was caught on the boundary for 35, and when Arul Suppiah was run out soon after Somerset had sunk to 97-6 after 15 overs.

It was game over when Buttler was caught in the 17th over, and they eventually ended on 128-9, giving Leicestershire the win by 18 runs.

In reaction to the defeat, Somerset director of cricket Brian Rose (pictured left) said: “I thought that we did very well in reaching the final and batted well in a difficult situation against Hampshire.

“I’m afraid that we didn’t bat well in the final chasing a modest total, although it was more difficult out in the middle than it looked and their spinners bowled very well.

“However, we lacked application.”

Just as they had the year before, Somerset reached another final after their T20 disappointment - the CB40 final at Lord’s.

And just like 12 month previously, Somerset lost that final, this time by five wickets against Surrey Lions.

Buttler made 86 from 72 balls, but Somerset’s 214 from 29.2 overs (Jade Dernbach 4-30) was not quite enough, as Rory Hamilton-Brown’s 78 helped Surrey reach a rain-adjusted target of 189-5 in 27.3 overs.