t20: Somerset 153-4 beat Gloucestershire 152-9 by six wickets
Somerset again waltzed past their rivals' target to complete a t20 double.
The visitors took just 16.5 overs to overhaul Gloucestershire's mediocre score as their powerful batting line-up again proved why theY are one of the most dangerous t20 outfits.
Gloucestershire actually built potential for a competitive score but the wheels were stripped from their innings as six wickets went down for the loss of just 20 runs.
A great deal rests on James Franklin. The over-reliance on him has been exposed on various occasions throughout this tournament and 20 from 17 balls wasn't enough to propel his side to a good score.
Alex Gidman has provided a few useful scores since he has opened the batting but again he got out before he was able to provide a great contribution.
The collapse killed Gloucestershire's innings and everybody knew 152 was about to be gobbled up.
Marcus Trescothick, while being a truly brilliant batsmen, is no longer the king-pin in the Somerset line-up. It was a great boost for the home supporters when Steve Kirby cleaned him up for just one but the depth in the visitor's batting was demonstrated in truly arrogant fashion as Kieron Pollard walked to the wicket at number six.
Understandably, it was outrageously demoralising for Gloucestershire, who, like at Taunton when his innings blasted down a very stiff target, again blew the boys from Bristol totally out of the water with two fours and three sixes.
The worst thing about Pollard is that he only cost Somerset £20,000 for the whole tournament. The biggest steal in county cricket, considering his IPL auction price of $750,000. One wonders how much Aaron Redmond - who's cricket proved unsuitable for t20 - and Ian Butler - who's injury-ridden past always made him a gamble - took from the Gloucestershire coffers.
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