'We failed to win because of two freak dismissals' says Shine after Cidermen lose

Somerset failed to complete their hat trick of victories over international opposition when they were beaten by Zimbabwe at the County Ground on Tuesday.

Chasing a total of 285 Somerset went into their final two overs needing eighteen runs to win, which had reduced to eleven by the last over, but try as they may the task was just beyond the young eighth wicket pair of Wes Durston and Gareth Andrew and they went down by just 3 runs.

Earlier the visitors total had been based upon a fifth wicket partnership of 134 in 20 overs between Stuart Carlisle who made a fine 119 and Stuart Matsikenyeri who hit a breezy 66. Steffan Jones was the pick of the home bowlers with 2 for 40 from his ten overs whilst Simon Francis ended with 2 for 56.

The key partnership in Somerset's reply came from Peter Bowler and Keith Dutch who added 134 in 22 overs for the third wicket before Bowler was stumped for 93.

His partner Dutch had the misfortune to be run out yet again, as he was on Sunday, whilst he was backing up at the bowler's end when a fierce drive from Ian Blackwell was touched onto the stumps by bowler Heath Streak. The former Middlesex man had made 93, the highest one day score of his career and looked all set for a well deserved century.

Skipper Mike Burns followed shortly afterwards to a sharp catch at backward square leg, and from 218 for 2 the hosts slipped to 270 for 5. Matt Wood and Blackwell were both run out which left the two Somerset youngsters facing a tough task that proved to be just beyond them.

At the end of the game coach Kevin Shine said: "Once again we had an excellent pitch that produced a high scoring game, and once again we have got ourselves into a winning position, but failed because of two freak dismissals- Keith Dutch's run out and Mike Burn's catch at backward square."

"We paced our reply well today, and Peter Bowler and Keith Dutch both played very well for us. Today we have played an international side and but for two freak dismissals we would have won," he concluded.