Somerset secure quarter-final berth after Essex hammering

MEN'S T20 BLAST ROUNDUP: Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Matt Henry do the damage as the visitors are beaten for the ninth time in 11 games

Taunton: Somerset 225-6, Essex 130 - Somerset won by 95 runs

Tom Kohler-Cadmore smashed a brilliant half century to propel Somerset to a convincing 95-run victory over Essex Eagles at Taunton and guarantee the runaway South Group leaders a place in the quarter-finals of the T20 Blast.

In scintillating form beneath the Taunton floodlights, the 30-year-old right-hander staged a breathtaking innings of 90 from just 39 balls, striking eight fours and seven sixes.

It came as part of dominating stands of 88 and 55 with Will Smeed and Tom Abell for the second and third wickets respectively as Somerset ran up an imposing 225 for 6 after Essex had won the toss.

Related: Phil Salt's bat cleared after on-field bat gauge test fail

Related: Essex defy Surrey's overseas spin duo to snap winless start

^{Matt Henry charged through hapless Essex (Harry Trump/Getty Images)}

Smeed scored 32, Sean Dickson weighed in with 28 not out and amid the carnage, Mohammad Amir emerged as the only Essex bowler to escape punishment, the Pakistan international returning stand-out figures of 3 for 22 from four overs.

Undermined by overseas bowlers Matt Henry and Riley Meredith, who claimed 4 for 21 and 2 for 22 respectively, the Essex chase came up well short as the visitors were dismissed for 130 in 14.1 overs, Noah Thain top-scoring with 38.

This latest victory moves Somerset 12 points clear of nearest rivals Surrey, while Essex remain rooted to the foot of the South Group after suffering a ninth defeat in 11 games.

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