We didn't quite fire with the ball: Somerset skipper Gregory rues bowling display in Blast defeat

Somerset shipped 202 runs against Sussex Sharks, whose impressive haul was underpinned by a fine 92 from Luke Wright, and ended up 35 short in the chase

^{Somerset captain Lewis Gregory}

Lewis Gregory revealed his disappointment with Somerset’s bowling display after the county’s T20 Blast adventure was ended by Sussex Sharks at the semi-final stage.

Somerset shipped 202 runs against the Sharks, whose impressive haul was underpinned by a fine 92 from Luke Wright, and ended up 35 short in the chase.

One over from Jamie Overton cost 31, while another from the skipper went for 23 as Wright made hay at Edgbaston and ultimately set his team up for victory.

Gregory pointed to the Sussex captain’s contribution and his own side’s shortcomings with the ball as the crucial factors in their defeat.

“It’s obviously disappointing. I don’t think we quite fired with the ball as we have done in the competition, and how we would have hoped,” he said.

^{Sussex Sharks batsman Luke Wright}

“We’ve got to put it down to them as well. Luke Wright played brilliantly, put us under pressure and made us change to try different things to try to keep him quiet.

“We didn’t quite do that today, which is a real shame, but it’s a game of cricket at the end of the day and unfortunately we came out on the wrong side of it.

“We didn’t quite adapt well enough and someone who is a very, very good T20 cricketer came off on the day. Unfortunately it was too much for us.”

Sussex skipper Wright admits to jug avoidance

Gregory said Somerset felt Sussex’s score was 20 runs above par but his side could only reach 167 in pursuit.

“They bowled really well at the death as well, they have a really strong bowling line-up and when you’re chasing down 200 on a slow-ish wicket it makes it very difficult,” he said.

The loss has not dented his confidence in the current squad in place at Taunton, however.

“On a day like this it comes down to whoever performs and whoever deals with the pressure best,” said the captain.

“We didn’t quite do that today but I see this team going a long way in the next few years.”