Somerset Secures Knockout Spot with Dominant Win Over Middlesex

Somerset secured an eight-wicket victory over Middlesex, driven by Riley Meredith's outstanding bowling, which dismantled the hosts' batting order at Lord's, ensuring Somerset's place in the knockout stages of the Metro Bank One-Day Cup.

Meredith, who had previously troubled Middlesex with 4 for 12 in Somerset's T20 Blast win at Lord's in June, repeated his performance by taking 4 for 27. This impressive spell led to Middlesex being bowled out for a mere 135, with 63 balls still remaining. It marked only the second time Meredith had taken four or more wickets in a List A match.

Josh Davey, Meredith's new-ball partner, provided excellent support, claiming 1 for 20, and together they left Middlesex reeling at 39 for 4 by the end of the power play. England spinner Jack Leach added two more wickets later in the innings, with only Martin Andersson (34) and Luke Hollman (38), who was left unbeaten, offering any significant resistance.

In response, Somerset comfortably chased down the target, thanks to an unbroken third-wicket partnership of 81 between James Rew (53) and Lewis Goldsworthy (41). Somerset reached the target with 23 overs to spare, effectively ending Middlesex's hopes of advancing.

Somerset's sixth victory in eight group matches puts them in a strong position to advance directly to the semi-finals, though their final standing will depend on the outcomes of other games in the coming days. Middlesex, despite winning three of their last four matches, found themselves in trouble early on after being asked to bat. Meredith wasted no time, dismissing Nathan Fernandes for a single after just four balls.

Joe Cracknell, who had recently set career-best scores in his last two games, was run out after a collision with bowler Davey before George Thomas' direct hit sealed his fate. Meredith then dismissed Mark Stoneman, whose brief innings included four boundaries, with a delivery that clipped the off stump.

Davey continued the early onslaught by bowling Sam Robson off the inside edge, and even after the new-ball pair left the attack, Ben Green added to the damage by getting Jack Davies to edge one through to Rew.

Middlesex, at one point, seemed at risk of not surpassing the 78 runs they managed against Somerset in the Blast two months earlier. However, some solid driving from Andersson helped them cross that threshold, as he and Hollman put together a 46-run partnership for the sixth wicket.

Meredith returned after the drinks break to extinguish any remaining hopes of a Middlesex comeback by trapping Anderson leg-before with the first ball of his second spell.

Hollman hit the only six of the innings off Leach into the Mound Stand, but his teammates continued to fall, with Sean Dickson's spectacular catch to dismiss Henry Brookes standing out as a highlight of Somerset's sharp fielding.

As Somerset began their chase, Thomas narrowly avoided being run out on seven, but he soon fell to a brilliant stumping by Jack Davies off Ethan Bamber. Davies also stumped Somerset's leading run-scorer in the competition, Andrew Umeed, for 22.

However, Goldsworthy anchored the innings, guiding Somerset towards the target with the support of Rew, who accelerated towards the end to reach his fifty in style, finishing with a towering six off Hollman.