ANOTHER excellent innings from Zander de Bruyn fired Somerset Sabres to a 30-run victory away to group leaders Northamptonshire Steelbacks in the Twenty20 Cup last night (Thursday).

De Bruyn hit a brilliant 83 not out from 52 balls as Somerset reached 163-3, which was only a competitive score on a fast, bouncy pitch.

However, a fine bowling restricted the hosts – who had won their opening five games in the Midlands Wales and West section – to 133-9.

The win enabled Somerset to bounce back from their defeat at Worcestershire the previous evening and enter the Twenty20 break in second place, two points behind leaders Northants.

After winning the toss, Somerset lost Marcus Trescothick early on before his fellow opener Craig Kieswetter (23 from 26) and De Bruyn added 45 for the second wicket.

De Bruyn then shared 42 with James Hildreth (21 from 16) but the real impetus was provided with Peter Trego who, like de Bruyn, has been in sparkling form of late.

The duo added 74 in good time with Trego hitting three fours and a six in his 34 from 21 balls, while de Bruyn’s superb knock included seven fours and two maximums.

Northants got off to a flying start in reply as Ian Harvey and Robin White put on 45 in excellent time.

But that soon became 46-3 as excellent catches from Arul Suppiah and Alfonso Thomas got rid of White and Steven Crook before Harvey (30 from 17 balls) went to Charl Willoughby, who ended with 4-29 from his four overs.

After that, the hosts were always struggling as fine four-over spells from Mark Turner (2-20), Trego (2-20) and Thomas (2-22) ensured a comfortable Somerset win.

Somerset’s director of cricket Brian Rose told the club’s official website: “It was the perfect response from the players. As we were poor in the field at Worcester, we were outstanding tonight (Thursday).

“Arul’s catch to dismiss White was a stunner, diving high to his left, and Alfonso matched it by running towards the boundary from mid-off and diving full length to dismiss Crook.

“Zander de Bruyn and Pete Trego played well and we got a lot of runs in the last sx or seven overs. But it was a bouncy pitch and I felt we might be 20 runs short at the halfway point.

“We knew we would have to bowl and field well and that’s exactly what happened.”

The Sabres’ next Twenty20 match is at home to Worcestershire on June 23.

This Saturday, Somerset return to four-day action when their Championship match against Lancashire at Old Trafford gets underway.