Royal London One-Day Cup South Group

Kent 88-1 beat Somerset 221-9 by 28 runs (D/L)

SOMERSET'S inconsistent Royal London One-Day Cup campaign continued as they were beaten by Kent in a rain-affected clash in Canterbury.

Having lost a crucial toss, Somerset made 221-9 as Lewis Gregory and Matt Renshaw made half-centuries.

The hosts set off at speed in reply to reach 88-1 from the 16 overs played before the downpour, 28 runs ahead of the DLS par score.

Somerset’s side required a late change as Craig Overton picked up a hand injury in the warm-up, opening up an opportunity for all-rounder Ben Green to make his List A debut and his first senior appearance since he played a T20 against Hampshire in 2016.

The start was delayed by 90 minutes by rain, which reduced the match to 42 overs each, and Somerset were asked to bat upon losing the toss.

The visitors then saw both openers dismissed inside five overs for the third match in succession, as Steve Davies (2) edged Matt Henry behind and Johann Myburgh (8) was clean bowled shouldering arms to the same bowler.

Having scored just 101 runs in six innings in this competition so far – more than half of which came against Sussex – Davies’ place at the top of the order may now come under threat.

Tasked with another rebuilding job, Peter Trego and James Hildreth steadied the ship for a time before the latter was lbw to Darren Stevens for 12.

When Trego (25) then chipped a return catch to Darren Stevens and Tom Banton (3) was adjudged out to a low catch by Alex Blake which was referred to the third umpire, Somerset were 66-5.

Lewis Gregory and Matt Renshaw joined forces to put together a much-needed partnership in the middle order, with the stand-in skipper continuing on from where he left off against Middlesex on Sunday and Renshaw moving towards his second half-century of the competition.

The Australian made 56 from 58 balls before he was caught from the bowling of Taunton-born Calum Haggett, who then removed Roelof van der Merwe (3) on his way to 3-42 from nine overs.

Gregory’s departure for 60 left Somerset 184-8, leaving debutant Green (26*) to guide his side to 221-9 from their allotted overs.

Kent’s reply emphasised how crucial the toss had been, as they were able to get comfortably ahead of the rate before the downpour arrived.

Somerset made a perfect start with the ball, Gregory finding Bell-Drummond’s edge to send the opener on his way back without scoring.

Joe Denly (44*) and Heino Kuhn (36*) punished anything slightly wayward to put the hosts in the driving seat before the downpour and secure a valuable two points in a tight group.

Five of the nine South Group teams now sit on six points, and two of them go head-to-head in Taunton on Friday as Somerset host Gloucestershire in a crunch match - defeat would make qualification for the knockout stages a tough proposition.