Dave Nosworthy has paid tribute to match-winners Craig Meschede and Max Waller – as Somerset aim to move back to the top of their YB40 pool with victory over Middlesex at Lord's tonight.
Somerset edged a nervy, engrossing 40-over clash with Glamorgan at Taunton on Sunday, as Meschede and Waller – batting at 8 and 9 – both hit career-best List A scores to guide their team to a three-wicket win.
And victory over Middlesex in today's televised, floodlit game at the home of cricket (3.40pm start) would see Somerset – still without a win in the LV= County Championship – return to the top of Group C in the 40-over competition.
"It's always nice to keep going and get that momentum when you're winning," said director of cricket Nosworthy, whose team have won four of their five YB40 games so far.
"But, in saying that, it's an away game against a team that is very strong – and we look forward to those challenges and to playing against the best teams. How you perform against quality teams gives you a good idea of where you are.
"There's no real pressure on us going away from home to play, but hopefully we can keep the roll going."
Somerset, chasing 246 for victory, looked in trouble at 203-7 against Glamorgan – before Meschede, who had earlier hit 24 off one Simon Jones over that went for 26 in total, and Waller saw their team home with an unbroken 43-run stand in 4.1 overs.
"I think it's something we identified quite a while ago, that younger guys needed to start coming to the party," said Nosworthy. "They have been around the first team for a couple of years now and had a taste – and on the day they were brilliant.
"I'm really proud of the way in which they came to the fore in a situation that was under quite a lot of pressure, which is something else we've spoken about as a group: trying to perform when we get into those pressurised situations. It was a good effort all round.
"Without being negative, I'm a believer that potential sometimes lets you down. So it was good to see that potential coming to the fore – and that over from Craig against Simon Jones, when 26 runs came off it, was the turning point. From there, it was pretty much a run a ball – but the way they kept their heads calm and went about matters was superb."
Somerset – still without Craig Kieswetter, Alfonso Thomas and Jos Buttler – have named a 13-man squad for this evening's game, which includes five players aged 22 or younger. George Dockrell, 20, and 22-year-old Adam Dibble are added to the XI that beat Glamorgan on Sunday.
"There are a couple of young guys who are offering us depth at the moment – and, with some of the senior guys out injured, they will get opportunities in games such as these," said Nosworthy.
Somerset (from): M Trescothick (capt), P Trego, N Compton, D Elgar, J Hildreth, A Suppiah, A Barrow (wkt), C Meschede, M Waller, J Overton, S Kirby, A Dibble, G Dockrell.
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