Monday 1 June 2015 07:48, UK
Chris Gayle's mesmerising innings of 151 off 62 balls was incredibly not enough as Kent beat Somerset by three runs in a thrilling NatWest T20 Blast clash at Taunton.
Gayle hit 10 fours and 15 sixes, eight of those reported to have left the County Ground completely, but his scoring heroics came up just short as Somerset missed out on their mammoth target of 228 for victory.
The West Indies opener was clearly inspired by seeing Sam Northeast bat for the Spitfires, although it was amazing that his 114 off 58 balls would not turn out to be the biggest, or most exciting, innings of the day as a packed crowd certainly received value for money.
Northeast was part of a 94-run stand for the second wicket with Daniel Bell-Drummond, who made 51 before he fell to leg-spinner Max Waller.
He dominated a 70-run partnership with Sam Billings (24) and added another 40 with Darren Stevens, who became the first of three victims for Alfonso Thomas after reaching 22 to spark an incredible finish to the Kent innings.
Stevens was dismissed with the third ball of the final over, Fabian Cowdrey was run out before facing a ball, Northeast was bowled by Thomas and then the final ball saw Matt Coles castled for a duck as 225-3 became 227-7.
Somerset started slowly, with Coles accounting for Marcus Trescothick (7) and Peter Trego for a duck to leave them perilously placed on 22-2.
But Gayle soon hit his stride and dominated a stand with James Hildreth for the third wicket - they added 113 in less than 10 overs before Hildreth was dismissed by Darren Stevens for 29 off 24 balls.
James Allenby and Tom Cooper both made 12 before being removed by Adam Riley and Callum Haggett, and Gayle's biggest problem as the ball were counted down was getting on strike regularly enough.
He hit 22 off four balls from Coles in the penultimate over but Mitch Claydon, who bowled superbly to take 2-23, dismissed Sohail Tanvir for a duck and Gayle could only manage 12 off the final four balls once he got the strike, leaving Somerset just short of what would have been a sensational victory.
Kent top the South Group with four wins from five games, while Somerset have won one of their three outings.
Sunday's other game did not feature quite as many fireworks as Nottinghamshire claimed a 15-run win over Durham at Trent Bridge.
Riki Wessels scored 67 off 41 balls for the Outlaws as they scored 175-7 in their 20 overs, with Samit Patel hitting a couple of sixes in an innings of 46 off 39 balls. Usman Arshad and Paul Coughlin claimed a couple of wickets apiece for the Jets.
Durham's reply started badly with captain Mark Stoneman failing to score, and they were always struggling to keep up with the required run-rate as Nottinghamshire claimed wickets just as their momentum built.
Gordon Muchall and Ryan Pringle put on 61 for the sixth wicket, but even Muchall's 42 off 30 balls was not quite the increase in rate they needed with none of the Nottinghamshire batsmen going for more than 10 an over.
Darren Sammy took 2-31 and Luke Fletcher 2-29 as they secured their second win in three North Group games. Durham top the table on six points but they have played two more games than the second-placed Outlaws.
Watch the NatWest T20 Blast all summer on Sky Sports.
