Two wins for three will be enough, says Rose

10:57am Thursday 15th May 2008

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SOMERSET'S director of cricket Brian Rose believes two wins from the remaining three zonal matches will be enough for Somerset to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Friends Provident Trophy.

After a good start in the competition, Somerset made it two defeats on the bounce as they went down against Gloucestershire in Bristol last Sunday (see page 149).

That leaves them third - behind Gloucestershire and this Sunday's visitors to the County Ground, Worcestershire, who have played a game fewer.

The top two sides qualify and Somerset's remaining games are home to Worcestershire, home to Gloucestershire at Bath and against Glamorgan in Cardiff.

However, Rose thinks they can afford to lose one more match.

Rose said: "Our situation in the Friends Provident has obviously been affected by the result in Bristol which was a key game.

"We have now got to concentrate on each game as it comes and qualify by winning two of the three games that we have left, which I think will be enough to see us qualify.

"We are trying to address the areas where we think our game has slipped a bit.

"Certainly we can improve our fielding and it was obvious that both Glamorgan and Gloucestershire fielded very well in the games against us, so we need to improve in that department."

Big-hitting all-rounder Ian Blackwell said the players were "kicking themselves" after letting match-winning positions slip against Gloucestershire and Glamorgan. But he added they are still confident of qualifying.

Blackwell said: "We are kicking ourselves because we feel that we should have beaten both Glamorgan and Gloucestershire. To have been the top of the table and then let the advantage slip is not what we wanted.

"We need to beat Worcestershire on Sunday if we are going to progress and get through to the Lord's final."

Sunday's match starts at noon.

SOMERSET piled up the runs after being asked to bat by Sussex on the opening day of their Liverpool Victoria Championship.

They finished the day on 399-3 with James Hildreth 127 not out.

Opener Neil Edwards was agonisingly close to a century - he was run out for 99 - while Marcus Trescothick (74) was also in the runs.

LLOYD Alley hit 118 not out on his 2nd XI Championship debut for Somerset 2nd against Surrey at Gipsy Lane on Wednesday.

Alley is the 17-year-old grandson of Somerset legend Bill Alley.