SOMERSET Over 50s’ dream of reaching a final of the ECB County Championship were dashed when they were beaten by Yorkshire in the semi-finals at North Perrott CC.

After Yorkshire won the toss and decided to bat first, Gary Bennett (Minehead) broke the opening partnership with the score on 32.

A crucial stand of 79 for the second wicket was ended by a neat stumping by Jon Kerslake (Taunton) off Jon Dalwood (Chard) who then struck again to remove Andrew Bairstow for 59.

The 200 was posted in the 41st over, before the returning Neil Hendy (Wellington ) picked-up three wickets in the penultimate over, including that of Iqbal Khan for 51 as the visitors ended on 224 for eight from their 45 overs. Hendy finished with the figures of 3-24 and Dalwood 2-30 from his 9 overs.

In reply, Martin Cox, who plays for Midsomer Norton, went cheaply which brought Mark Sage (Timsbury) and Kevin Parsons (Taunton St Andrews) together.

The Somerset pair ran well and were able to put away the occasional bad ball when the opportunity arose. However, with the score having moved onto 85 in the 21st over, Sage was caught going for a big hit on the boundary for 44.

When Kearsey and Rob Moysey (Wellington) then fell in quick succession to the off-spin of Andrew Doidge, it was Parsons and Dalwood who were left with a re-building job to do.

Skipper Parsons had moved onto 53 when a delivery from Jarvis trickled back onto his stumps making the hosts 124 for five in the 34th over.

Dalwood with 28 kept battling away and a late show of defiance from Hendy (19*) was ended when Kerslake was run out and Somerset were all out 46 short of their target.