Kieswetter sends Somerset through

Craig Kieswetter smacked 84 from 42 balls to turn the game on its head and send Somerset into the quarter-finals

A breathtaking innings of 84 from Craig Kieswetter earned Somerset a three-wicket victory at Bristol and a place in the quarter-finals of the Twenty20 Cup.

The South African wicketkeeper, who qualifies for England in February, scored his runs off just 42 balls, with eight fours and four sixes, to turn the game as the Sabres chased down 174 to win with an over to spare.

Gloucestershire had looked in complete control when reducing the visitors to 23 for four in reply to 173 all out.

But Peter Trego, with 49 off 26 balls, helped Kieswetter put on 79 for the fifth wicket, both players producing an array of attacking shots.

The hosts gave away six penalty runs for a slow over-rate, which reduced Somerset’s target from 10 off 11 balls to just four, a costly mistake in a tense, see-saw game.

Alfonso Thomas hit the winning boundary off the last ball of the penultimate over and the Sabres are now guaranteed a place in the last four.

Somerset’s seamers had taken a pasting as the Gladiators raced to 100 in only the eighth over after losing the toss.

Kadeer Ali set the tone with six fours and a six in his 33 as Mark Turner went for 16 in an over, Charl Willoughby 17 and Trego 13.

The scoreboard read 38 for one in the third over when Kadeer was bowled having another swing at Willoughby, but the scoring rate was maintained by Hamish Marshall and Will Porterfield, who put on 63 in five overs.

Marshall made 36 - he hit five fours and a six - before he was run out by James Hildreth attempting a single to point, while Porterfield struck four fours in his 19-ball 32.

It was the introduction of spinners Arul Suppiah (2-21) and Max Waller that stemmed the tide for the Sabres.

Unfortunately for the visitors, leg-spinner Waller was only able to bowl two overs before going off with a back problem sustained while fielding.

They cost him only nine runs and he claimed the wicket of Porterfield, while left-armer Suppiah sent back James Franklin and David Brown in four accurate overs.

A highlight for Somerset was a spectacular one-handed catch above his head by Kieswetter to dismiss Steve Kirby, while Thomas finished with 3-31.