Moeen Ali continued his good form, but a Worcestershire collapse put paid to their semi-final hopes as Mahela Jayawardene struck an unbeaten hundred
David Hopps at Taunton17-Aug-2016
ScorecardMahela Jayawardene made a classy century•Getty Images
Moeen Ali couldn’t wait. In fact, he was gagging for it, thirsting for it, so hungry that it was almost unbearable. According to Worcestershire’s pre-match publicity, there was barely a bodily reaction that was not conveying Moeen’s desire to return from England duty and take them closer to a Lord’s final. He proved as much, carrying his form in the final Test at The Oval into county cricket, but sadly for Worcestershire, bodily functions elsewhere were markedly below par.While Mooen was at the crease at Taunton, his 81 from 76 balls possessing appropriate grace for such a wearing, humid day, Worcestershire implied that the 280 they needed to make this quarter-final an even game was well within their compass. Then, at 155 for 3 in the 30th over, Moeen got out, a swivel-pull against Peter Trego falling to Max Waller at deep midwicket. Worcestershire made only 210.They got what they deserved: a nine-wicket spanking with more than 13 overs to spare. The day was unbearably close; the match, almost as unbearably, was not.Worcestershire’s season is therefore as good as over. Defeat against Glamorgan at New Road as good as ended their Division Two promotion hopes, especially with only one side going up this year, they flattered to deceive in the NatWest T20 Blast and now their Royal London Cup challenge has ended at the quarter-final stage. They have lacked middle-order runs all season and that again proved to be their downfall.Daryl Mitchell, Worcestershire’s captain, did not flinch from criticism. “We have been inconsistent with the bat all season,” he said. “We are relatively inexperienced but these are guys with England aspirations and we have to be able to turn potential in results and do it in front of the TV cameras when the pressure is on.”There was another silky innings to relish at Taunton but Mahela Jayawardene, after making a delightful unbeaten 117 in 111 balls, would be the first to admit that he was not extended by the target. He has had a largely unproductive spell at Somerset this season – his previous best since joining the county for the NatWest T20 Blast being 55 – but a selection of easeful glides and a couple of gentle straight sixes against the spinners were a reminder of his class. Presented with a chance to depart with smiles all round, he took it. It would have been rude not to.Somerset now face an away tie against Warwickshire in the semi-final, but it looks as if they will have to manage without Jayawardene. “I think the semi is going to be tight,” he said. “I have already moved a few things around to play today, but prior commitments at home mean I have to go back now. Even this match was a bit of an extension but I have had a great time here and if they get to the final I might be able to make the trip.”Somerset posted an opening stand of 188 in 33.1 overs as Jim Allenby, 81 from 96 balls, also produced one of his crispest innings in a Somerset shirt before sweeping Moeen to deep square. It was Somerset’s seventh win in the competition this season after waltzing through their group. A challenging season is turning in his favour and he is now only one match away from skippering Somerset in a Lord’s final.Moeen Ali carried Worcestershire’s fight•Getty Images
Jayawardene set the tone in the field with a slick catch high to his left at first slip when Tom Kohler-Cadmore tried to advance down the pitch to Craig Overton while Josh Davey struck twice in one over, Tom Fell cutting weakly to point and Joe Clarke chipping just as tamely to midwicket.Moeen and Mitchell repaired matters in an untroubled stand of 113 in 20 overs, only for Worcestershire to falter a second time. Every Trego intervention is cause for contentment at Taunton and the ground was almost full to see him follow up the wicket of Moeen by dismissing Daryl Mitchell for 64 – a failed hit over mid-off – and adding Ross Whiteley for nought, an outside edge against one that rose a little. His 3 for 8 in 12 balls as good as settled the contest.Moeen and Mitchell apart, nine Worcestershire batsmen mustered 63 between them on a benign surface. The run out of Joe Leach by several yards after his heavy-footed plod failed to match the desire of his batting partner, Ed Barnard, for a quick second, summed it all up. When Jack Shantry was last out in the next over, seven overs remained unused.