SOMERSET’S hopes of reaching the Vitality Blast knock-out stages remain alive following their 27-run victory over Derbyshire at Derby.

Will Smeed’s superb 89 including six sixes off 51 balls took the holders to 214 for six .Aneurin Donald then hit 65 off 27 balls but Somerset bowled well to restrict the Falcons to 187 for seven, Daniel Sams finishing with three for 29.

Batting first Somerset openers Smeed and Thomas Rew took 61 from the powerplay before two wickets fell in consecutive overs slowed their progress,

Thomas Rew for 39 off 22 balls and then brother James.

After 10 overs, Somerset were 88 for two and the hosts were building pressure until Tom Kohler-Cadmore launched Jack Morley for successive sixes in the 12th over.

Smeed reached 50 from 33 balls and celebrated with a big six over wide long on off Moqim and another off Potts in the 16th over.

He launched Potts for another over midwicket and drove the seamer over cover for a third maximum in the over before Kohler-Cadmore was bowled to end a stand of 94 from 47 balls.

The over, which included three wides, cost 28 but Smeed’s hopes of a hundred ended in the 17th over when he missed a big drive at Moqim. Andersson took two wickets in the 19th but Overton gave the innings a final flourish by hitting the last two balls for four.

Derby needed a big response from Donald and he did not disappoint by blasting five sixes in an 18 ball 50.

Jake Ball bowled Andersson but Donald was the one Somerset wanted and Overton delivered when he had him caught at deep midwicket off the last ball of the powerplay.

Somerset started to squeeze the hosts and with the rate above 15 an over any fading hopes ended when Sams yorked Wayne Madsen in the 18th over.