Compton hundred spikes Unicorns

Somerset 222 for 6 beat Unicorns 218 for 8 by four wickets
Scorecard

Nick Compton's century guided Somerset to a four-wicket victory over the Unicorns in Group C of the Clydesdale Bank 40 at Wormsley.

Having won the toss and chosen to bat first, the home side posted a competitive total of 218 despite Ajantha Mendis' three for 32.

Somerset lost early wickets but Compton steadied the ship and Jos Buttler punched an unbeaten 30 from 23 balls to see them home.

An opening partnership of 78 got the Unicorns' innings off to a perfect start, Jackson Thompson leading the way with a flurry of boundaries.

But when he was the first man out, trapped lbw by Mendis for 44 - made from 37 balls, with seven fours and a six - it quickly became a double setback. Wicketkeeper Josh Knappett was the man removed first ball by Mendis, Buttler taking the catch.

The other opener, Michael Thornely, pressed on to 47 from 51 balls but, having hit five fours, he offered a return catch to give the Sri Lanka spinner his third wicket.

Chris Benham and captain Keith Parsons - playing against his former club - rebuilt with a stand of 42 before the former was caught by Somerset skipper Marcus Trescothick off Gemaal Hussain.

Parsons reached 41 before giving keeper Craig Kieswetter one of his three catches and tail-enders Neil Saker and Glen Querl put on 25 in the later stages to see their side to 218 for eight in their 40 overs.

Saker quickly picked up the key wicket of Trescothick for a third-ball duck and the latter's opening partner Kieswetter fell to Querl for five, Knappett taking the catches on both occasions.

But Peter Trego made 21 and Compton and James Hildreth then put on 62 for the fourth wicket before Hildreth was run out by Querl.

Compton lost Lewis Gregory for 11 but found another willing ally in Buttler in a sixth-wicket stand of 69.

Compton completed his century from 102 deliveries and swiftly cracked a 10th four to add to his two sixes, but his vigil was ended with 10 runs required when Saker found a way through his defences.

Buttler remained to finish the job, though, and Arul Suppiah emerged to casually hit two of the four balls he faced to the boundary in a cameo of nine not out.

Saker took an impressive three for 33 and Querl (two for 47) also emerged with credit, but Somerset always had enough in the tank as they wrapped up the win with seven balls remaining.