Jayawardene’s ton leads canter after Trego’s telling spell

Somerset 214 for 1 (Jayawardene 117*, Allenby 81) beat Worcestershire 210 (Moeen 81, Mitchell 64, Trego 3-33) by nine wicketsScorecard

Moeen Ali couldn’t wait. In fact, he was gagging for it, thirsting for it, so hungry that it was almost unbearable. According to Worcestershire’s pre-match publicity, there was barely a bodily reaction that was not conveying Moeen’s desire to return from England duty and take them closer to a Lord’s final. He proved as much, carrying his form in the final Test at The Oval into county cricket, but sadly for Worcestershire, bodily functions elsewhere were markedly below par.

While Mooen was at the crease at Taunton, his 81 from 76 balls possessing appropriate grace for such a wearing, humid day, Worcestershire implied that the 280 they needed to make this quarter-final an even game was well within their compass. Then, at 155 for 3 in the 30th over, Moeen got out, a swivel-pull against Peter Trego falling to Max Waller at deep midwicket. Worcestershire made only 210.

They got what they deserved: a nine-wicket spanking with more than 13 overs to spare. The day was unbearably close; the match, almost as unbearably, was not.

Worcestershire’s season is therefore as good as over. Defeat against Glamorgan at New Road as good as ended their Division Two promotion hopes, especially with only one side going up this year, they flattered to deceive in the NatWest T20 Blast and now their Royal London Cup challenge has ended at the quarter-final stage. They have lacked middle-order runs …

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