Gloucestershire C M Spearman, H J H Marshall,
C G Taylor, A P R Gidman, D O Brown,
M A Hardinges, S J Adshead, I D Fisher,
A J Ireland, B M Edmondson, C G Greenidge
Somerset J L Langer, J D Francis,
M J Wood, C L White, J C Hildreth,
C M Gazzard, W J Durston, I D Blackwell,
G M Andrew, A R Caddick, C M Willoughby
| cricket20
Ian Blackwell starred with ball and bat as Somerset dented Gloucestershire's Twenty20 Cup hopes with a six-wicket win at Bristol.
Making his first appearance in this season's competition after a knee injury, Blackwell conceded a miserly 12 runs from his four overs and took the key wicket of Hamish Marshall as the Gladiators were restricted to just 100 for nine, Steve Adshead top scoring with 30 not out.
Then, with the Sabres struggling on 39-4 in reply, the all-rounder came in to strike an unbeaten 42 and see his side to victory with more than three overs to spare, despite the best efforts of Anthony Ireland, who claimed three for 15.
Somerset's other heroes in a dominant bowling display were Andy Caddick (two for 22), Charl Willoughby (two for 21) and Cameron White (three for 16).
It was the first time the Sabres' two senior seamers, Caddick and Willoughby, had teamed up in this season's Twenty20 and they soon had the Gladiators reeling at 21 for three.
Left-armer Willoughby had Craig Spearman and Alex Gidman caught as they attempted to drive full-length balls, while Caddick clean bowled Chris Taylor.
Blackwell was introduced for the eighth over in his comeback game and soon had Marshall caught at backward point by Wes Durston for 13. Gloucestershire were 40 for four and never looked like recovering.
Mark Hardinges hit three boundaries in his 28, but Adshead was the pick of the Gladiators batsmen, hitting the only six of the innings over square leg off Gareth Andrew.
It didn't come until the 19th over, which summed up the dominance of the Somerset bowlers.
Ireland looked to be getting the Gladiators back into the game when he removed Matthew Wood, White and John Francis in an impressive spell. Justin Langer was then caught behind off Ben Edmondson and the Sabres still needed 62.
But Blackwell looked in a different class to the other batsmen on both sides, hitting a six and three fours in his 31-ball knock. James Hildreth's 15no lent valuable support in an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 63.
It was only Somerset's second Twenty20 win in seven games and the result meant Gloucestershire may have to win their last group match against Glamorgan at Bristol on Friday to reach the quarter-finals.
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