NatWest Pro40 D2, Taunton: Middlesex bt Somerset by seven wickets
Somerset lost to Middlesex by seven wickets at Taunton to miss out on the Pro40 Division Two title.
They were favourites to add the trophy to their Division Two Championship success, but were pipped by Durham after the Dynamos beat Glamorgan.
Justin Langer (54) and Neil McKenzie (86) helped Somerset to 211-9 after they had slumped to 25-3.
But Middlesex openers Ed Joyce (77) and Ed Smith (80) put on 154 and Andrew Strauss (35no) saw the visitors home.
Joyce and Smith paced their partnership perfectly in glorious batting conditions to ensure their side clinched third place and a chance of promotion through the play-off.
The left-handed Joyce made his runs off 78 balls, with nine fours and a six, while his partner batted for 100 deliveries and collected seven fours and a six.
Both eventually fell to return catches and there was still a little work for Strauss to do at the end as Somerset fought hard.
But the England batsman took a six and a four off Andrew Caddick's final over to move Middlesex within 20 of victory with five overs remaining.
Strauss and Jamie Dalrymple eventually saw the Crusaders home with 17 balls to spare.
Young seamer Steve Finn claimed 3-23 and Tim Murtagh 3-38 to dent the home side's hopes of securing the victory more than 4,000 Somerset fans had turned up hoping to witness.
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