Somerset set the bench mark
Source -
sportinglife.com
The 2006 Twenty20 Cup got off to an explosive start with the defending Champions Somerset sending out a warning that last seasons win was no fluke smashing a Twenty20 Cup record 250 against Gloucestershire at Taunton.
Somerset launched their defence of the Twenty20 Cup with a world record score as Australians Cameron White and Justin Langer set up a 117-run demolition of Gloucestershire at Taunton.
White blasted an unbeaten 116 off 53 balls, while Langer marked his first ever game of Twenty20 with 90 off 46 deliveries in an astonishing total of 250-3.
It shattered the previous best in the competition, set by Somerset in the same fixture last year, by 22 runs.
Matt Wood set the tone with 34 off 19 balls before Langer and White added 186 in 14 overs. White hit nine sixes and Langer four.
In reply, Gloucestershire lost talisman Ian Harvey to the second ball of the innings and were never in the hunt as they struggled to 133 all out, Charl Willoughby taking 4-30.
Skipper Jon Lewis, who had won the toss, top-scored with 43 off 22 balls.
But at one stage the scoreboard read 56-6 in a totally one-sided contest.
Last season, it was Graeme Smith's power at the top of the order which made Somerset such a force.
Now in Langer and White they have batsmen capable of equal savagery.
All Gloucestershire's bowlers were treated alike by the pair.
Martyn Ball went for 35 off two overs, Will Rudge 46 off three, Mark Hardinges 44 off three and Carl Greenidge 43 off four.
As well as the 13 sixes during the partnership, there were 17 fours, all greeted ecstatically by home supporters in the 7,000 crowd.
White demonstrated awesome power, while Langer made use of the short straight boundaries at Taunton with some devastating drives.
The 100 came up off 10 overs and the 200-mark was passed in the 17th. White reached his ton off 48 balls with a six over extra cover off Will Rudge, which also brought up the record Twenty20 total at 230-1 with eight balls remaining.
Langer needed 10 off the final over to follow his partner to three figures, but was bowled by the first ball from Harvey, who finished with 3-46.
By then, Gloucestershire were demoralised, having dropped two chances offered by White on 11 and 88.
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