LONDON, CMC – Chris Gayle slammed a cameo in a losing cause for Somerset but West Indies seamer Ravi Rampaul was on the mark again for Surrey with a three-wicket haul, as he helped them to a 29-run victory over Middlesex in the T20 Blast here Friday.
Sent in at the Oval, Surrey tallied 173 for seven off their 20 overs with England opener JJ Roy top-scoring with 35 and Zafar Ansari scoring 34 down the order.
Sri Lankan stroke-maker Kumar Sangakkara chimed in with 27 but West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo’s run of low scores continued as he made just seven from eight balls before perishing in the 14th over at 102 for six.
In reply, New Zealander Brendon McCullum threatened to give Middlesex a flying start when he clobbered a four and a six in scoring 16 from 11
balls.
But Rampaul, who finished with three for 21 from three overs, bowled him in the fourth over at 29 for one and his dismissal triggered a collapse as Middlesex lost five more wickets for 52 runs.
New Zealander James Franklin, who top-scored with 39, added 43 for the seventh wicket with Ollie Rayner (13) to revive the innings before Rampaul struck again, removing both batsmen in the 18th over, to all but guarantee Surrey victory.
At Bristol, Gayle slammed a top score 40 from 26 deliveries but Somerset crashed to a four-wicket defeat to Gloucestershire with one ball remaining.
The West Indies left-hander struck six fours and two sixes, posting 55 off 38 deliveries for the first wicket with captain Jim Allenby (27) as Somerset got up to 158 for five, after they were put in.
In reply, Gloucestershire lost Hamish Marshall to the first ball of the innings but captain and opener Michael Klinger saw his side to victory with an unbeaten 60 from 43 balls.