BOWLER AND BURNS LEAD SOMERSET TO NUL VICTORY OVER SURREY

Belligerent batting from Ali Brown (98) and skipper Adam Hollioake (70) guided the visitors to 236-8 in their 45 overs.

But Somerset openers Ian Blackwell and Peter Bowler put on 44 in six overs and they always kept on top of their run-rate thereafter.

Bowler led the way with his fifth half-century in the competition this season.

He received good support from Matt Wood in a third wicket stand of 49, which ended when Wood cut a catch to wicketkeeper John Batty off Tim Murtagh.

Then Burns helped Bowler put on 87 in just 12 overs as Surrey's attack, who had to contend with a wet ball for part of the innings, were taken apart.

Burns twice reverse swept Gareth Batty to the boundary on his way to 53 from 47 balls, with seven fours.

Bowler finally fell for 86, with eight fours and a six, when he was caught behind off Ed Giddins in the 39th over.

Earlier Ali Brown and Adam Hollioake had taken charge for Surrey with a third wicket partnership of 155 in 24 overs, after Steffan Jones had claimed a double-wicket maiden in the 8th over when Ian Ward was caught at slip and Gareth Batty edged to wicketkeeper Rob Turner.

Hollioake struck five fours and a six over the Ian Botham stand, in his 77-ball innings of 70, before Dutch had him stumped by Turner.

Brown was on course for his second century in the competition this season when he fell for 98 to a good return catch by left-arm spinner Ian Blackwell.

His 89-ball innings included five fours and four sixes, three of which were driven straight over the short county ground boundaries.

Surrey, who looked on course for 300 at one stage, ended on 236-8 as Blackwell, in particular, restricted the runs in the closing overs.

Blackwell also bowled Gary Butcher behind his legs and had Ben Hollioake caught by Dutch at long off in a six over spell of 3-16.