SOMERSET kept their hopes alive of a home semi- final in the Metro Bank One Day Cup when they beat Worcestershire by five wickets with more than five overs to spare in front of a holiday crowd of 3000.

Before the start of the match the players from both sides lined up in front of the Andy Caddick Pavilion to observe a minute's silence in memory of former England batter Graham Thorpe who passed away earlier this week.

After being asked to bat first Worcestershire openers Gareth Roderick and Ed Pollock took the total onto 55 when the latter was caught by Ben Green off Ned Leonard for 30.

Roderick was next to go when he was caught by Leonard off Alfie Ogborne for 35. Rob Jones helped to see up the 100 in the 21st over but one run later was caught by Leonard off Green. Two further wickets followed, Jake Libby for 24 and Rehann Edvavalath caught and bowled by Jack Leach.

Ethan Brookes and Tom Taylor then added 30 for the sixth wicket before Brookes was caught by Leach off Lewis Goldsworthy for 33.

Fateh Singh survived a chance at mid on before going onto add 42 with Taylor. Off spinner Archie Vaughan then came on and bowled him for 19.

New batter Tom Hinley brought up the 200 in the 40th over with the first of two consecutive sixes he hit off Aldridge. The eighth wicket pair continued to plunder runs until Green struck again and had Hinley caught at long on by Ogborne for 32. A mix up led to the ninth wicket falling with the total on 238.

However Taylor remained at the wicket and went to his 50 in the 46th over. In the end it was the returning Aldridge who accounted for Taylor caught by Ogborne for 73 as Worcestershire were all out 263 in 47.3 overs, Green ending with three for 58 in nine overs.

Chasing 264 for victory Taylor gave the visitors a dream start claiming George Thomas first ball of the innings offering no stroke.

Goldsworthy then joined Andy Umeed and both started to find the boundary. In the end it was Goldsworthy who hit Tommy Sturgess through mid wicket to see up the 50.

The pair took the score onto 96 when Umeed was out for 44 .James Rew then came to the wicket and straight away found his form hitting consecutive fours off Brookes and by the halfway stage Somerset had reached 129 for two.

The third wicket partnership continued to flourish and with 20 overs remaining Somerset needed 97 runs for victory with eight wickets in hand and seemed to be coasting to victory..

Rew went to his half century with a single to third man, his runs coming off 43 balls with seven fours and a six, shortly after which the left hander brought up the 200. Rew was given a life on 68 , but soon afterwards, trying to reverse sweep he was caught at cover off Singh making Somerset 212 for three, the pair adding 116 in 18 overs.

New batter Vaughan got off the mark with a boundary that was loudly applauded before next over Goldsworthy who had reached 95 was bowled by Singh, who struck again when he had Sean Dickson caught at slip by Pollock next ball which brought Green into face the hat trick ball.

From looking nailed on winners Somerset needed to buckle down again and graft towards the victory target. Vaughan relieved the pressure with consecutive fours off Singh and went onto end unbeaten on 31 off 24 balls, his best in List A while Green was not out 23, as Somerset reached 267 for five.