TOM Lammonby smashed a career-best 90 off just 36 balls as Somerset made sure of a home quarter-final in the Vitality Blast with a 23-run victory over Gloucestershire at Taunton on Sunday.

Going in at number six, the 21-year-old left-hander blasted 11 fours and four sixes to transform a previously slovenly Somerset innings and lead them to 183-7 in blazing sunshine.

Gloucestershire, needing a win to qualify from the group, replied with 160-6, Ian Cockbain top scoring with 72 off 46 balls, as Craig Overton took 2-18 and Jack Brooks 1-19.

David Payne started the game with four dot balls after Gloucestershire elected to field and had Devon Conway (4) caught behind off the final delivery of the opening over.

Dan Worrall and Josh Shaw provided decent support as the six-over powerplay saw Somerset score only 32, also losing Steve Davies (2), who fell hit-wicket to Payne (2-35).

Benny Howell and Tom Smith bowled customary tight spells as only Will Smeed of the Somerset top order offered much attacking intent, with two sixes in his 39.

After 14 overs the scoreboard read 82-4, but suddenly Lammonby cut loose in devastating fashion.

Worrall’s return to the attack for the 18th over began with six, four, six (the first off a no-ball), as Lammonby, made good use of the ramp shot to move to a 22-ball fifty, and it ended up costing the Aussie seamer 21 runs.

Lammonby then took 20 off Payne in the 19th over, with four more boundaries, as Roelof van der Merwe contributed just five to a sixth-wicket stand of 89 in 5.2 overs.

When Lammonby was run out off the last ball of the innings, his last 17 balls faced had brought him 56 runs.

All the momentum was with Somerset, and skipper Overton bowled a wicket-maiden in the fifth over of Gloucestershire’s reply, removing Howell (10), as the visitors struggled to 37-2 at the end of the powerplay.

Glenn Phillips hit the first six of the innings off Ben Green in the seventh over and was given a life on 14 off the next ball, when Smeed spilled a steepling catch running in to mid-wicket.

Green took his revenge in the 10th over as Phillips (29) skied again and Overton took the catch at extra cover, and at the halfway point Gloucestershire were 76-3.

Cockbain and Jack Taylor did their best to make a fight of it, adding 52 in 6.2 overs before Taylor (26) was yorked by Green (2-34), who conceded only four from the 16th over.

Cockbain moved to a powerful 35-ball half-century and notched four sixes and four fours, but it wasn’t enough.

The result sees Somerset finish second in the South Group standings, behind Kent Spitfires and ahead of Sussex Sharks and Hampshire Hawks.

The Blast quarter-finals - Nottinghamshire v Hampshire, Yorkshire v Sussex, Kent v Birmingham and Somerset v Lancashire - will run from August 24 to 27, with Finals Day on September 18.

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Reflecting on Sunday's win, Tom Lammonby said: "It was the best I have batted in this format.

"The pitch was a bit tricky before you got yourself in, but then the ball sat up nicely to be hit.

"It was especially satisfying to play so well against our local rivals and a team with such a good bowling attack in T20.

"But putting that aside, it was also great to have our supporters back and hear Sweet Caroline echo around the ground.

"We have had a great week, reaching Division 1 in the Championship as well as the Blast quarter-finals.

"We pride ourselves on being multi-skilled across all formats and will be doing all we can to win both competitions."