Royal London One-Day Cup
Somerset 291-6 beat Surrey 290-8

ROELOF van der Merwe's unbeaten 165 inspired Somerset to mount a sensational comeback to defeat Surrey, having lost their first five wickets for just 22 runs.

Van der Merwe and Dean Elgar (68) shared a partnership of 213 runs that dragged Somerset back into it, and eventually overwhelmed Surrey - as the target of 290 was surpassed in the 44th over of their innings.

Somerset one-day captain Jim Allenby won the toss and chose to put Surrey in to bat first.

Surrey's opening pair of Mark Stoneman and Dominic Sibley made a solid start, Stoneman reaching 56 and Sibley 37 before both were caught off the bowling of Lewis Gregory - who later dismissed Sam Curran to end with a three-wicket haul.

Sri Lankan star Kumar Sangakkara threatened with a classy 32, before he was caught by wicketkeeper Steve Davies off the delivery of Josh Davey, who also removed Rory Burns (15).

It was Ben Foakes, though, who starred with the bat for Surrey as he rattled off an excellent 92 - his best 50-over score - before being snared by Elgar off Craig Overton.

Overton claimed two more victims - Scott Borthwick and Tom Curran (in the same over as Foakes) - but Surrey's 290 looked a very competitive total for Somerset to chase.

The hosts' pursuit of that target started horrendously, as Jade Dernbach and Sam Curran tore into the top of their order.

Steve Davies, Peter Trego, Jim Allenby, James Hildreth and Adam Hose were all dismissed in rapid fashion, with Somerset 22-5 and looking down and out.

But cometh the hour, cometh the Merwe.

Van der Merwe and Elgar put together a partnership of 213, a record sixth-wicket stand for Somerset, which dragged the hosts back into the contest and into the driving seat.

By the time Elgar was bowled by Borthwick in the 37th over, Somerset were up to 235 runs.

That meant it was left to Van der Merwe and Gregory to finish the chase, and a weary Surrey could not deny them - Gregory knocking Dernbach for four to reach 291 and cap the sensational turnaround.