Somerset qualify for Champions League's group stage

Losers Kolkata Knight Riders also qualify on better run-rate along with Trinidad & Tobago while Ruhuna lose out.

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A good start by the Somerset batsmen at the top ensured an 11-run victory over Kolkata Knight Riders as they qualified for the group stage of the Champions League Twenty20 in Hyderabad.

However, the losers slacked off a bit to the end with the knowledge that they too would qualify on better run-rate.

The Riders, along with Trinidad and Tobago, took the third qualifying spot, edging out Ruhuna Rhinos on better run-rate.

Somerset had the opener Peter Trego's knock of 70 to thank for boosting their total to 166 and giving the bowlers enough to defend.

Trego batted throughout the 20 overs and put on 72 at eight an over with Roelof van der Merwe, who made 40 from 25 balls, before he was caught by Jacques Kallis off Jaidev Unadkat.

In Kolkata's reply, Manvinder Bisla hit a huge six in Alfonso Thomas's opening over but was run out from the first ball of the next after a calamitous mix-up with opening partner Kallis.

Kallis made just one before chipping Murali Kartik to mid-on, where James Hildreth took a good catch. Manoj Tiwary and Shreevats Goswami put on a stand of 38.

But an unconvincing innings of 14 from the latter was finally ended when he skied Max Waller to Compton at long-on.

Rajat Bhatia made a useful 19 but slapped a full toss straight to cover from the first ball of the last over. A two from Ryan ten Doeschate took Kolkata past the qualifying mark but he was bowled by Van der Merwe for 46 next ball.

Earlier, Leicestershire slipped to a four-run defeat at the hands of the Ruhuna Rhinos.

The Foxes were on course to overhaul Ruhuna's target of 160, but the departure of Abdul Razzaq with six overs to go, who took them from 64 for one to 128 for four, dealt a crucial blow in their run chase. Razzaq holed out for a 46-ball 68.

Rhinos were 22 for two in seven overs but Dinesh Chandimal hit an impressive and unbeaten 62 from 51 balls to stage a strong rally.

* Agencies

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