SOMERSET beat Essex by 195 runs at Billericay CC to reach the final of the ECB Under 18s County Cup competition, thanks to a century from Thomas Rew and a six wicket haul by James Theedom.

After choosing to bat first on Sunday morning, the Somerset innings was given a great start by Thomas Rew and Seb Linnitt  The openers added 170 for the first wicket before Linnitt was out for 83 which he scored off 74 balls with 11 fours and a six.

Rew then shared a partnership of 66 with Kian Roberts before he departed for 117 which he scored from 107 deliveries and contained 13 fours and a six.

Roberts took his score onto 42 off 50 balls with three fours before he was out and two runs later Archie Vaughan followed for 15  which made the score 266 for four.Lower in the order Ollie Heard made 16 before Somerset were all out for 315 in 49.3 overs.

The Essex reply started well and the first wicket partnership was worth 44 when Ollie Heard removed one of the openers. Heard then accounted for the other opener shortly after which Kian Roberts claimed a run out at which point the scoreboard read 59 for three.

James Theedom then entered the attack and proceeded to claim six of the remaining wickets, three of them caught by ‘keeper Rew as Essex were bowled out for 120 in 20.5 overs.

Theedom ended with the impressive figures of six for 13 from his 5.5 overs, one of which was a maiden, Heard ended with two for 31 from five while Oscar Coleman had one for 15 from two.

Somerset face Warwickshire in the final of the ECB Under 18 competition at Kibworth on September 3.

The squad included: Blaise Baker, Kian Roberts, Ollie Heard, Aman Rao, Jay Terry, Archie Vaughan, James Theedom, Seb Linnitt, Thomas Rew (C), Lachlan Rice, Oscar Coleman, and Ben Mason.