Kent vs Somerset T20 Blast, Rossouw Powers First Victory For Somerset

Somerset emerge victorious over Kent Spitfires in the second match of the T20 Blast. The visitors got a measure of revenge for the loss to Kent Spitfires in the final the previous year, as Rilee Roussow scored 81 off 54 balls (including seven fours and two sixes) and Tom Abell made 48 off 29, while Somerset romped to the end of the innings at 166 for 2, five balls short, having shared an unbeaten 121 partnership between Roussow and Abell.

Early Jack Leane scored 72 off 43 balls, as Somerset recovered from being only 52 for 4 at half-time to make 162 for 6, with Lewis Gregory taking three for 25 on his 100th T20 innings for Somerset. Kents Spitfires were reduced to 30 for two by the end of the Powerplay, and then lost captain Sam Billings for only five in the seventh over, as he walked behind Gregory.

Somerset seamer Lewis Gregory had previously done some early damage to Worcestershires title-winning batting order, removing Daniel Bell-Drummond (12) and defending batting champions Kent Spitfires captain Sam Billings (4), and he had dismissed Lynde afterwards as well. Kent – looking to become the first team in Blasts history to win the competition in consecutive years – were reduced to 31-4 in the eighth over, before Jack Leaning (72-4 from 43), assisted by George Linde (29 from 15), powered the comeback to 162- 6.

Somerset lost Tom Banton for nine as he edged to Matt Milnes for Jack Leane on the square leg boundary. Then, Will Smeed for 21 as he edged to Fred Klaassen off Jordan Cox at square leg, but Kent’s inability to get wickets proved critical.

Qais Ahmad and George Linde, had been each spinners whose inventory balls turned into the left-hander and Rossouw’s presence rendered Kents two overseas players unusable from one finish, with Billings rightly spooked by Lindes own takedown of Goldsworthy.

Somerset’s determination to recruit an additional overseas batter for the Vitality Blast paid instantaneous dividends on the competitors opening night at Canterbury, as Rilee Rossouw s 81 not out helped them actual revenge on Kent in a rematch of last years ultimate. Somerset, however, would have been chafed to have lost their final against reigning champions Kent last year, and would have been desperate for revenge on the defeat.

Kent have rebuilt admirably, with Jake Leaning — the key man in their title-winning final Yrs run having gone under the radar — leading from the front in a big way. Kent rebuilt admirably, with Jack Leaning – whose key role of their title final year slipped below the radar – leading the way.