LONDON, Aug 2: Holders Somerset staged a remarkable comeback to snatch an unlikely five-run victory over Kent in the semifinals of the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy Thursday.

Kent were clear favourites to reach the final at Lord’s when they required only eight runs to win off the last two overs with three wickets in hand.

But in an amazing turnaround they lost those last three wickets for just one run in the space of four balls to collapse from 338 for seven to 339 all out.

Substitute fielder Simon Francis triggered the drama by brilliantly running out James Goulding as he attempted a quick single to mid-off.

One run later David Masters was bowled by a Matt Bulbeck yorker that was so close to missing the stumps that it required the third umpire to confirm from video-replays that the bail had been dislodged by the ball and not off the wicketkeeper’s pads.

That left former England all-rounder Mark Ealham (36 not out) facing the first ball of the final over from Steffan Jones with six runs required to overhaul Somerset’s formidable 50 over total of 344 for five.

But he was out to a diving leg-side catch by Keith Dutch off the first ball to spark mass celebrations among the jubilant Somerset supporters.

Score:

At Taunton: Somerset bt Kent by five runs:

Somerset 344-5 (I Blackwell 86, M Burns 72, P Bowler 70) v Kent 339 (M Fleming 63, A Symonds 55; K Parsons 4-55).—Reuters