SOMERSET’S hopes of winning the ECB 50+ County Championship KO Cup have been ended when they lost to Yorkshire by 130 runs in the final at Kibworth,

After Somerset captain Kevin Parsons won the toss and put Yorkshire in, the opening pair took the total onto 52 when one of them was run out by Gary Bennett the 10th over.

Martin Cox accounted for Andrew Bairstow, LBW with the score on 88 in the 16th over. However Yorkshire’s third wicket pair then added 120 in 24 overs before Mark Tilley had opener Stephen Foster caught by ‘keeper Jon Kerslake for 85.

Tilley then claimed Iqbal Khan, caught and bowled for 65, after which the Yorkshire batters added some quick runs to take the total onto 272 for 5 by the end of their 45 overs. Tilley ended with 2 for 42 from his 4 overs.

Chasing a challenging total Somerset were soon in trouble as Muhammad Shahnawaz claimed the top four batters, making them 18 for 4 in the seventh over.

Bennett and Andrew Fear steadied the situation and took the total onto 41 when the former was out for 13.

Fear was joined by Jon Dalwood and together the sixth wicket pair saw the total to 111 when Fear was run out for 49 which came from 69 balls and included 2 fours and 2 sixes.

Dalwood fell shortly after with the total on 117, having contributed a patient 26 off 76 deliveries with 2 fours.

Jason Squire made 10 before Neil Hendy, who ended unbeaten on 7, and Brian Stone, who remained not out 8, stayed together to see Somerset to 142 for 8 by the end of their innings.

This was a disappointing end to a very successful season for the Somerset Over 50s who will be back next year hoping to go one step further.