Somerset skipper Langer undaunted by Lancashire clash

Somerset skipper Justin Langer insists he is undaunted by the prospect of a Twenty20 Cup quarter-final clash away to Lancashire – even though they have been the best side in the competition this season.

The Sabres lost by one run to Warwickshire at Edgbaston yesterday to finish third in the Midlands/Wales and West Division and miss out on a last eight game at their Taunton base.

Instead they will travel to Old Trafford on either July 27, 28 or 29 after being drawn to face a side that has won eight of their 10 North Division games.

Langer identified his side's early innings bowling as the key area they need to improve on in order to progress further.

"We fancy our chances against anyone," insisted the former Australia opener. "We have missed out a couple of times this year but, with our middle order batting, I think if we get our bowling right I think we can beat anyone."

Lancashire will be missing England stars Andrew Flintoff and James Anderson for the quarter-final but have been without the pacy pair for most of their Twenty20 Cup games anyway.

Langer admitted he was surprised to see his batsmen fall short of their target of 194. The Sabres were 120 for two after 11 overs but closed on 192-7.

"It was a good game of cricket, but we probably had a couple of bad overs which cost us," he said.

"We kept persevering, but when we were batting at no stage did I think we would lose the game, so it was disappointing to lose.

"It was a good start with the bat, but it wasn't with the ball again and that is an area where we have to look to keep improving at.

"The first six overs were costly again but I still thought we would win it with the bat.

"We needed 12 off 12 balls and probably the second last over (when only five were scored) was one where if we had scored a boundary we would have had the game over. We were ahead of the Duckworth-Lewis throughout the game."

Omari Banks was the pick of Somerset CCC's bowlers with 1-26 from his four overs, but Alfonso Thomas came in for praise from the captain.

"Alfonso's first over went for 19 and he ended up bowling four overs for 33 so that was an excellent comeback from him," he said.

Langer rates leg-spinner Max Waller (side strain) as "very unlikely" to play in the Championship game with Yorkshire that starts at Taunton tomorrow.