SOMERSET’S hopes of retaining the T20 Trophy and winning the treble were shattered when they were well beaten by Gloucestershire at Edgbaston.

The Cidermen’s big guns failed and the batters struggled against an accurate and well drilled Gloucestershire attack which took the pace off the ball.

They slipped to 42 for four in the seventh over and it was left to skipper Lewis Gregory to try to put a defendable total on the board. Sadly nobody else stayed with him and after he was out for 53 which he scored off 37 balls and included three fours and two sixes Somerset  were all out for 124 in 19.4 overs.

When the Gloucesters replied they never looked in trouble as openers Cameron Bancroft and Miles Hammond took the score onto 112 before Josh Davey had Bancroft caught on the boundary by Will Smeed for 53 in the 14th over. Ollie Price hit the winning runs with a six off Jake Ball to see his side to 129 for two with five overs to spare.

Not only did Gloucestershire win the  final they had beaten Somerset for the third time in their T20 meetings this season.,

Earlier in the day Somerset beat Surrey for the second time in 48 hours to win their way through to the final.

After being asked to bat first Surrey went off at a rate of knots and reached 26 off 11 balls before Dan Lawrence was out off Davey.

Roelof van der Merwe took the pace off the ball when he came into the attack for the sixth over after which Somerset kept up the pressure and limited Surrey to 153 for nine.

Gregory was the pick of the bowlers with three for 15 while Davey claimed three for 34.

Somerset in reply  lost Tom Kohler- Cadmore to the first ball and then in the second over new batter Abell was out caught.

Worse was to follow when Smeed was caught by ‘keeper Smith making Somerset seven for three staring into the abyss.

Cue James Rew the replacement for the injured Tom Banton to join Sean Dickson. What followed during the course of the next 16 or so overs was what Somerset fans hoped for but hardly dared to dream about.

Against the odds the duo saw the score onto to 151 before Dickson went for 78 off 57 balls with eight fours and three sixes. The fifth wicket partnership of 144 was the highest ever on finals day.

 Fittingly it was left to Gregory to score the winning runs to see Somerset home to a five wicket victory with five balls left.

Rew remained unbeaten on 62 off 44 with five fours and three sixes, while Gregory was not out six.