Somerset move top of South Group with victory against Hampshire
Somerset bounced back from defeat by Kent to see off Hampshire and move top of the South Group in the menโs Vitality Blast.
Will Smeedโs 68 and 55 from captain Lewis Gregory helped the home side reach 209 for seven at Taunton, and that proved enough for a 17-run victory.
Captain James Vince cracked 54 from 30 balls as Hampshire made a good start to their chase but wickets fell regularly and they could only register 192 for seven.
It was Somersetโs sixth win from seven matches to put them ahead of Surrey, while Leicestershire continued their strong form in the North Group with a comfortable four-wicket victory against neighbours Nottinghamshire.
Rehan Ahmed was the star of the show, taking two wickets as Notts were bowled out for 156 and then hitting 52 from 37 balls to help Leicestershire to 160 for six with 14 balls remaining.
Essex remain winless after an agonising one-run defeat against fellow strugglers Middlesex at Lordโs.
Kane Williamson was the standout with the bat for Middlesex with 53 as they were bowled out for 161 but Essex could not quite overhaul them, finishing on 160 for six.
In the womenโs competition, The Blaze defeated Lancashire by five wickets for their fifth win from seven games.
Ailsa Lister dominated Lancashireโs innings with 79 from just 38 balls in a total of 150 for nine but that was overhauled by The Blaze with nearly two overs to spare.
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England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt hit 31 while Georgia Elwiss was unbeaten on 43 as the hosts reached 153 for five.
Somerset remain winless at the bottom of the table after losing by five runs to Hampshire.
Maia Bouchier, Charli Knott and Freya Kempโs 65 not out carried Hampshire to 169 for six, and Somerset could only reach 164 for six despite 60 from Niamh Holland.
