Somerset 'still can't find that winning formula' says Shine as the Sabres go down to the Royals

Somerset are still searching for that elusive first one day victory after they were beaten by 127 runs by Worcester Royals in the NUL at New Road this afternoon.

After last weekend when they narrowly lost to Yorkshire Phoenix by one run they seemed to have regained their one day form so their performance against Worcester Royals will come as another blow.

Chasing a Royals total of 254 the Sabres lost Peter Bowler,Matt Wood early on and with the score on 15 Jamie Cox was out LBW.

From that position they never recovered and despite a brave innings of 37 from Keith Parsons and a lusty 21 from Matt Bulbeck there was no way back and they were all out for 127 in the 33rd over.

Earlier in the day Worcester Royals scored 254 for 7, thanks to a sound innings of 65 by opener Anurag Singh and an aggressive knock of 66 by Ben Smith.

Royals innings lost opener Vikram Solanki to the first ball of the day when he was caught behind the wicket by Rob Turner off Matt Bulbeck.

New batsman Graeme Hick and Singh moved the score onto 70 before Hick, was caught by Pete Trego, fielding as substitute, off Graham Rose for 18.

The Royals batsmen scored steadily until slow bowlers Keith Dutch and Ian Blackwell reined the Royals back in.

When fast bowler Simon Francis was introduced into the attack for the 31st over in place of Dutch he was unlucky to have 13 scored off his first over.

In his next over the former Hampshire man made amends by bowling Duncan Leatherdale for 39 and two runs later accounting for Gareth Batty.

Smith and keeper Steve Rhodes then shared a 6th wicket partnership of 78 in 12 overs before Francis struck again twice in the final over dismissing Smith for 66 and Rhodes for 42, to end with his best ever NUL return of 4 for 60.

After the match Somerset coach Kevin Shine told me: "We are still can't find that magic winning formula. We have been pretty poor, and the boys are feeling it, but it will only take one good result to get us back on track."