Anuj Dal Leads Derbyshire to Narrow Victory Over Somerset

Anuj Dal's stunning century propelled Derbyshire to the top of Group A with a nail-biting one-wicket win over Somerset in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup at Taunton.

Batting first after losing the toss, Somerset set a formidable 316 for 5. Captain Sean Dickson hammered 86 off 64 balls, featuring 8 fours and 3 sixes. James Rew contributed 88, Andy Umeed added 58, and Josh Thomas remained unbeaten on 54. Zak Chappell was the standout bowler for Derbyshire with 3 for 54.

In reply, Derbyshire's chase of 317 for 9 was anchored by Dal, who smashed a remarkable 115 off 75 balls, including 10 fours and two sixes, alongside David Lloyd’s 71. Seventeen-year-old Harry Moore played a crucial role, scoring an unbeaten 36 to secure the win with ten balls to spare. George Thomas took 3 for 41, marking a career-best in List A cricket.

Moore, having scored just ten runs in his previous three List A innings, surpassed that with a match-winning 20-ball cameo, featuring five fours and a six.

Earlier, Chappell and Sam Conners dismissed George Thomas and Lewis Goldsworthy in the first four overs. Rew and Umeed then steadied the innings, compiling a century partnership for the second time this season. Both reached half-centuries in the 24th over before Umeed fell for 141, caught at short cover off leg-spinner Mitch Wagstaff. Rew followed soon after, top-edging a pull shot to fine leg off Chappell, having laid the foundation for a late onslaught.

Dickson and Josh Thomas took Somerset to 89 off the last seven overs. Dickson's quick-fire half-century included two sixes off Conners and one off Harry Moore, whose ninth over conceded 22 runs. Dickson eventually fell to Chappell, but Thomas continued the attack, ending the innings with a six off a free hit from Conners, reaching his fifty off 41 balls.

Derbyshire's innings began aggressively with Luis Reece hitting 6 fours in the first two overs. Harry Came partnered Reece to take the score to 60 before being trapped lbw by George Thomas in the final ball of the power play. Thomas struck again, having Brooke Guest caught behind for 15, and a quick single call from Lloyd saw Reece run out for 44, unable to beat Umeed’s swift throw to wicketkeeper Rew.

Matt Lamb was bowled by Jack Leach, and Derbyshire found themselves at 89 for 4. Samit Patel then offered a return catch to Thomas, who grabbed the sharp chance, reducing Derbyshire to 90 for 5. Lloyd and Dal revived the innings with a 145-run sixth-wicket stand, both reaching half-centuries in the 33rd over, with Dal first off 36 balls and Lloyd off 53.

Despite the presence of England spinners Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir, Somerset couldn't halt the run flow. Seamer Josh Davey finally broke the partnership, dismissing Lloyd for 235 with a reverse sweep catch to short third-man and catching Chappell at cover in the same over.

Wagstaff was run out by a direct hit from Dickson before Dal reached his explosive century off 69 balls. Dal was eventually bowled by Davey with 12 runs needed, but Moore held his composure, guiding Derbyshire to a thrilling victory.