SOMERSET were beaten by 14 runs at home by Hampshire Hawks on Thursday (June 23).

It was an entertaining match in the Vitality Blast that saw some top batting displays from both sides.

James Vince stole the show for the visitors scoring 129 not out, and he was helped by Tom Prest's knock of 62 runs. 

For Somerset, Rilee Rossouw scored 55 runs and Tom Banton looked in good form with 54 runs.

Somerset won the toss and elected to field first, Tom Abell said after the match that he felt any score here at Taunton can be chased down.

The visitors put in a strong performance with the bat setting the target of 208.

By the end of their powerplay, Somerset had reached 45 without loss. Both openers then began to accelerate, Will Smeed taking his tally of sixes to four before falling for 43 to a fine one-handed catch by wicketkeeper McDermott off Fuller. 

Rossouw hit his first two balls for four and six as the hosts progressed to 104 by the end of the tenth over, Banton going well on 38. 

Dropped on 43 by Prest at deep mid-wicket off Fuller, he moved to a 34-ball fifty with an audacious reverse sweep off Ellis, which cleared the stands. 

When Wood bowled Banton behind his legs, Somerset needed 78 from 45 balls. That had been reduced to 42 off 23 when Tom Abell was caught attempting a ramp shot off Wheal. 

The home side surprisingly sent in George Bartlett for his first Blast appearance of the season and could make only two before being bowled by Wood. 

Momentum was lost as Wood, Wheal and Ellis combined effectively with the ball at the death.  

Rossouw moved to his sixth fifty in 11 South Group games off 25 balls. But when he went to the first ball of the 19th over, caught in the deep off a Liam Dawson full toss and Somerset’s race was run and a clatter of wickets saw them fall well short.