The Somerset dream of retaining the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy stayed alive when they produced a remarkable victory over Kent after a tense finish at the County Ground.

Batting first in front of a packed house, Somerset posted an impressive 344 for 5 from their 50 overs, thanks to some aggressive batting later on in the innings, which saw 194 runs scored from the last 20 overs

Opener Peter Bowler survived an early chance when he was dropped in the second over, but then took the score onto 59 before he lost fellow opener Jamie Cox for 31.

Veteran Bowler, who celebrated his 39th birthday earlier in the week found a willing partner in Mike Burns, and brought up his own half century and the Cidermen's 150 before he was yorked by Andrew Symonds for 70.

Burns was joined by big hitting Ian Blackwell and together they added 90 in quicktime, until Burns was caught at cover by Kent skipper Matthew Fleming for 72, which included 1x6 and 6x4's.

Blackwell continued to bludgeon the Kent attack and was in devastating form taking 86 from just 53 balls, and hitting 12 x4's and 1x6 before he was out in the 46th over to make Somerset 294 for 4.

Keith Parsons was run out for 32 going for a quick single, and Keith Dutch hit three boundaries from the last three balls to see Somerset pose their visitors a formidable total to chase.

The Kent reply got off to a flying start, with Fleming and Robert Key bringing up the 50 in the ninth over until Parsons was introduced into the attack for the 14th over. Off the fourth ball Key chopped the ball onto his stumps, and Kent were 105 for 1.

In the next over Fleming chased a ball from Steffan Jones, and was caught by Rob Turner for 63, and in Parson's following over he trapped James Hockley LBW.

In the space of three overs the White Horse county had slipped from 100 without loss to 122 for 3, and Somerset hopes had been lifted.

Symonds looked well set until he top edged a sweep shot off Blackwell to short fine leg where Cox took an easy catch.

Going into the final twenty overs Kent needed 130 to win and seemed to be moving easily towards their target when once again Parsons was introduced into the attack for the 38th over.

With his first ball Parsons had David Fulton caught by Matt Wood at deep mid wicket, and then three balls later diving to his left Blackwell took a good catch to send Matthew Walker back to the pavilion, and Kent were 262 for 6.

Kent keeper Paul Nixon and Mark Ealham took the score to within 9 runs of the target, until Nixon was run out for 33 by Keith Dutch , who was fielding at mid wicket.

As the tension mounted, and both sets of supporters were on the edge of their seats, substitute fielder Simon Francis who was on the field in place of Richard Johnson, produced a remarkable piece of fielding to run out James Golding.

When David Masters walked to the wicket Kent required just 7 runs for victory from 8 balls. With the last ball of the penultimate over Matt Bulbeck bowled Masters, and then off the first ball of the final over that was bowled by Steffan Jones ,Dutch caught Mark Ealham at mid wicket off and the game was all over.

Somerset had snatched a 5 run victory from what had looked like a certain defeat just a few minutes earlier.

As the crowds thronged onto the pitch Ian Blackwell was named as a very popular Man of the Match Winner, and the Somerset fans started to make their travel plans for the trip to Lords on August 31st.

After the game Kevin Shine told me: "I've just spent the last 50 overs wearing out the carpet in the dressing room. From the position that Kent were in they should have won the match, but then along came Simon Francis and that remarkable piece of fielding, and from there the boys just squeezed home."

He continued: "Whoever we get in the final at Lord's it will be a hard, but we have already beaten two very good sides in Kent and Worcester so we have to be confident of retaining the trophy. That win really does show the character that we have in our team."

What was the situation with regard to Marcus Trescothick. He told me: "Marcus is away on holiday at present but he has been in touch all day today keeping track on the score. When he heard that we had won he told me that he would be trying his hardest to be fit for the final, and lets all hope that he does make it."

Man of the Match winner Ian Blackwell told me: "We were confident with the score that we set, but when we lost `Johnno ` with cramp, and then they only needed 7 runs to win we thought that the game was slipping away.The Simon Francis run out was an amazing piece of fielding and the turning point for us."

Somerset captain Jamie Cox said: "We have got a proud record in the C and G here at Somerset and this has been a wonderful defence of our title here today. The game seemed to be lost for us for a while, but some magnificent fielding and bowling won it back for us."

Regarding Ian Blackwell the captain told me: "He was awesome. Today was a special innings from him, but I still cant quite believe that we have won today."

Chief Executive Peter Anderson told me: "From an impartial spectators point of view that was a very entertaining game of cricket. From a Kent point of view it must have been disappointing, and from a Somerset perspective we are totally amazed. I've seen most things in the game of cricket but never seen anything quite like that."

Tickets for the Lord's final on August 31st will go on sale to Somerset members at the County Ground from 9am on Monday morning.

© SOMERSET