James Fiztpatrick
| cricket20
The Somerset Sabres will be favourites to secure a place in the Friends Provident t20 Finals Day after restricting the Northamptonshire Steelbacks to a total of just 112-6 at the County Ground in Taunton.
Having won the toss the Steelbacks got off to a disastrous start losing Chaminda Vass (0) and Alex Wakely (8) inside the first two overs after both batsmen where run out to leave the visitors 11-2.
Vaas was first to go without facing a ball after opening partner Rob White left the Sri Lankan stranded in the middle of the wicket after going for an ill-advised third run.
Wakley followed 11 balls later after another mix up with White; after Mark Turner put down a simple catch at mid on.
With the pressure mounting on the Steelbacks White; alongside David Sales built a vital 3rd wicket partnership of 21; before Sales (3) throw away his wicket picking out Turner who took an easy catch at mid on.
White and Eric Chigumbura (1) quickly followed as the visitors slumped to 43-5 after just 8.1 overs to put the Sabres in completely control.
The batting slump was ended by Stephen Peters (40) and skipper Andrew Hall (14) who resisted the Sabres bowlers to build a 6th wicket partnership of 39 which took 9 overs before another needless run out.
With the pair looking to increase the run rate Hall was run out after Peters tried to take an extra run to leave Hall stranded in the middle of the wicket.
Peters tried to break the shackles with a six and a boundary to start the 18th over but the Steelbacks know they will be under pressure with a total of just 113 to defend.
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