LONDON, July 31: South African skipper Graeme Smith inspired Somerset to a seven-wicket win against Lancashire at The Oval on Saturday to lift the Twenty20 title.

Rain had limited the final to 16 overs each, with Smith’s side limiting Lancashire to 114 for eight before reaching their target with more than an over to spare.

Smith finished on 64 not out as his side reached 118 for three, with James Hildreth hitting the winning runs.

Smith lost opening partner Marcus Trescothick — the left-hander caught behind off England team-mate Andrew Flintoff for 10 — but Matthew Wood arrived to take the score past the 50-run mark.

Flintoff then bowled Wood for 22 to leave Somerset 60 for two, and Ian Blackwell followed soon after he was caught by Stuart Law to the first ball of Gary Keedy’s spell.

Results on Saturday:

Twenty20 Cup:

First semifinal: Lancashire beat Surrey by 22 runs.

LANCASHIRE 217-4 (A. Symonds 52 not out); SURREY 195-7 (A.D. Brown 51).

Second semifinal: Somerset beat Leicestershire by four runs.

SOMERSET 157-9; LEICESTERSHIRE 153-8 (D.L. Maddy 56).

Final: Somerset beat Lancashire by seven wickets.

LANCASHIRE 114-8 (S.G. Law 59); SOMERSET 118-3 (G.C. Smith 64 not out).—AFP