Somerset charge into semi-finals

Mark Ramprakash tried his best to challenge Somerset's 290 with a belligerent 73 for Surrey in their 64-run defeat at Taunton

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Somerset assured themselves of a spot in the semi-finals of the Clydesdale Bank 40 when they beat Group A rivals Surrey by 64 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis method with more than four overs to spare at Taunton.

The Sabres produced a powerful batting display in a rain-affected match that was reduced to 36 overs a side, Craig Kieswetter making 79 and Jos Buttler a 46-ball 87.

That helped the hosts to 290 for six, to which Surrey replied with 227 all out.

A valiant 71 not out from Adam Voges was not enough to prevent Nottinghamshire from slipping to their third defeat, against Leicestershire, dampening their hopes of reaching the semi-finals.

In a nail-biting finish, Voges could only drive the last ball from Josh Cobb tamely to mid-on for none as Leicestershire ran out winners by four runs at Trent Bridge.

Voges received little support from his Outlaws team-mates, with captain Chris Read (32) the only man to offer more than a cameo, while Leicestershire captain Matthew Hoggard picked up 3-43.

Earlier, 60 from Matthew Boyce and 58 from James Taylor helped Leicestershire reach 219 for seven, with England Under-19 seamer Jacob Ball picking up 3-32 in his first appearance of the season for Notts.

Essex crushed the Netherlands by eight wickets under the Duckworth-Lewis method, having been set 74 from 16 overs to win their Group B match at Chelmsford.

The victory keeps alive Essex's hopes of reaching the last four after Ravi Bopara hit an unbeaten 43, including 28 off one over from Mohammed Kashif, as Essex raced home in eight overs.

Kent dented the last-four prospects of Group C hopefuls Hampshire with a 20-run win at the Rose Bowl.

Martin van Jaarsveld made a classy unbeaten 104 out of 241 for five and saw the Friends Provident t20 champions bowled out for 221 in response. Matt Coles took four wickets for Kent.

Amongst the teams whose interest in qualifying is at an end, Worcestershire beat the Unicorns by five wickets despite 91 from Josh Knappett and Durham saw off Scotland by 63 runs in another rain-shortened match.