Worcestershire Royals made it three wins in a row in the Friends Life t20 with a 54 run victory over Somerset at Taunton.

The Royals were put into bat by the home side but Moeen Ali, in particular, attacked from the start as, along with Vikram Solanki, their opening partnership reached 73 in the 8th over, when Ali was stumped by Jos Buttler off George Dockrell for 47, with 6 fours and 2 sixes, off just 23 balls.  Solanki had steadily gone on to 33 off 33 balls before he was out by hitting a Dockrell delivery to James Hildreth at long-off, with the score on 94 in the 12th over.

Gareth Andrew was the third wicket to fall when he was caught by Nick Compton at long-on off Steven Kirby for 19, with the score on 127 in the 15th over, before Phil Hughes, who was dropped twice, made the home side pay by making 41 off 32 balls, with 4 fours.  Although the Royals had lost four wickets in the final 3 overs, with James Cameron (7), Hughes, Daryl Mitchell (2) and Ben Scott (4) all departing, they were helped by being given six extra runs, due to Somerset bowling their overs too slowly, as the visitors ended on 173-7, with Alexei Kervezee (4*) and Brett D'Oliveira (1*) the two not out batsmen.

In reply David Lucas (2-9) bowled Nick Compton for 2 in the first over, with the score on 7, before Richard Levi (28) and Kevin O'Brien (22) both looked threatening, with a second wicket partnership of 44, until they were both dismissed by Mitchell (3-13) who along with the spin duo of Ali (2-14) and D'Oliveira (3-20) brought about a Somerset collapse as they went from 51-1 in the 7th over to 85-7 in the 14th over.  Despite a late burst from Lewis Gregory (22) the home side were never in the contest following their collapse and they were eventually bowled out for 119 off 19.1 overs.

Worcestershire now have 9 points from 6 games, in third place, one point behind both Warwickshire Bears and Somerset, who have both played 8 matches.