Tom Kohler-Cadmore’s swashbuckling 90 off 39 balls helped Somerset guarantee their spot within the Vitality Blast quarter-finals after they thumped struggling Essex by 95 runs at Taunton.
Batting in sunglasses to combat the sunshine which will have contributed to Essex’s below-par display in the sector with several drops, Kohler-Cadmore belted seven sixes and eight fours in a shocking knock.
Kohler-Cadmore seemed to be cruising towards an electrifying century but was suckered in by a wider delivery from Simon Harmer and succeeded only in toe-ending straight to Michael Pepper within the deep.
His innings was the cornerstone of a complete of 225 for six for Somerset, whose entire top-seven reached double figures, with Mohammad Amir the one Essex bowler to record respectable figures with 4-0-22-3.
Australia fast bowler Riley Meredith then made the breakthrough in Essex’s reply as a searing yorker positioned the bottom of Pepper’s leg stump, which extraordinarily snapped upon impact.
Essex got here into this contest with only one win from 10 this season and their hopes of doubling their tally and reeling of their highest-ever chase receded after they slipped to 48 for five after 5.4 overs.
Matt Henry was the pick of Somerset’s attack with 4 for 21, dismissing Amir together with his final delivery, before Essex were put out of their misery next ball and all out for 130 from 14.1 overs.
Somerset moved 12 points clear of Surrey atop the South Group they usually became the primary team to be sure that of a spot within the knockout stages, with rock-bottom Essex already eliminated.
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