Somerset continued their unbeaten streak in the Vitality Blast 2025 as Goldsworthy and Smeed played key roles in a six-wicket win over Gloucestershire at Bristol. With a career-best performance from Lewis Goldsworthy and a composed fifty by Will Smeed, Somerset comfortably chased down a modest target of 136, finishing at 137 for 4 with more than two overs remaining.
More than 6,000 fans filled the ground to witness a classic South Group clash. Batting first, Gloucestershire struggled to build momentum despite a 54-run opening stand between Cameron Bancroft and Miles Hammond. However, the game changed swiftly when Bancroft was dismissed by Ben Green, thanks to a stunning running catch from Riley Meredith.
Goldsworthy’s Magical Spell Turns the Tide
From that point, it was Lewis Goldsworthy’s time to shine. After a tight first over, he dismantled the Gloucestershire middle order in his third over, taking three wickets and turning the game in Somerset’s favour. The hosts crumbled from 73 for 2 to 75 for 5, as Goldsworthy removed Hammond, Ollie Price, and D’Arcy Short in quick succession.
“𝑰𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒅 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒎 𝒊𝒏 𝒔𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒂𝒏 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒃𝒚,” 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝑮𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒔𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒉𝒚 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒊𝒔 4-𝒇𝒐𝒓-13 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒍𝒍.
Despite a fighting 43* from captain Jack Taylor, Gloucestershire could only manage 135 for 7 in their 20 overs. James Bracey fell early to Meredith, while Zaman Akhter was run out in the final over of the innings.
In reply, Somerset lost Tom Banton for a duck, trapped lbw by David Payne. But Tom Kohler-Cadmore’s attacking intent, including a massive six off Ajeet Singh Dale, helped steady the ship. Will Smeed then took charge, hitting fours and sixes in a controlled innings, eventually remaining unbeaten on 51 from 42 balls.
Though Somerset lost Tom Abell and Kohler-Cadmore, Smeed and Sean Dickson kept the scoreboard ticking. Dickson’s quickfire 23 included two sixes, one of which was a stylish reverse sweep. After Dickson was bowled by Akhter, Lewis Gregory joined Smeed and sealed the match with an explosive 33* from just 17 balls.
Despite a brief rain shower towards the end, Somerset, thanks to Goldsworthy and Smeed, secured their fifth straight win and a measure of revenge for their loss to Gloucestershire in last year’s edition.
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