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Cox takes charge as Somerset pull clear

Somerset (266-4) bt Kent (264-5) by 6 wkts

Somerset reached another semi-final yesterday, though not since the days of Richards, Botham and Garner in the early Eighties have they taken that one extra step to Lord's. This year could well be different under the leadership of Jamie Cox, the Tasmanian who gets things done.

Cox's astute captaincy has welded Somerset into a resourceful one-day team; this deserved victory with almost four overs to spare was their 10th win in 11 games. Above all, Cox, who has agreed to return next year, has luck, because the withdrawal through illness of Kent captain Matthew Fleming opened the door, and Somerset have drawn another home tie in the semi-final.

Kent had already lost a key bowler in Dean Headley, who had sore ribs after the Test match. So the added absence of Fleming landed Mark Ealham with a tough job as stand-in captain.

Everything Cox touched seemed to turn to gold. He juggled the bowling well, set the fields shrewdly and then collected an almost risk-free 73 off 85 balls before being surprised by a lovely inswinging yorker from Andrew Symonds.

Symonds was regarded as Kent's most important batsman. The Queenslander seemed ready to pick up a big score, but Cox brought Caddick back into the attack the over after a drinks break and he bowled Symonds middle and leg with one he held back slightly. Lovely cricket - one up to Cox.

Michael Burns was introduced with his fiddly little in-swingers and, hey presto, Robert Key was yorked for 66, a blow which had Kent's innings faltering. A strong revival came too late. Cox and Piran Holloway, the leading Somerset batsmen, were chasing a very attainable target, cheered on by an excited crowd in the sunshine.

It was a good toss for Cox to win, and the Kent openers seemed determined to make life easier for Somerset by trying to run out each other during an early starburst of runs.

Luck looked to be riding on Kent's side, but Will House planted the ball into Steffan Jones's hands for a return catch in the fourth over, with the score already on 23. The pace did not pick up to this level again until late in the innings, when Matthew Walker and Mark Ealham let rip in a stand of 118 in 15 overs.

By the time Kent started to motor Caddick had finished his 10 overs for 28, with the wickets of Ed Smith and Symonds. This was a phenomenally economic effort in the game's context, and the remaining bowlers were smeared all over the ground.