has led to speculation he could be axed to accom

Somerset 214 for 1 (Jayawardene 117*, Allenby 81) beat Worcestershire 210 (Moeen 81, Mitchell 64, Trego 3-33) by nine wicketsScorecardMoeen Ali couldnt wait. In fact, he was gagging for it, thirsting for it, so hungry that it was almost unbearable. According to Worcestershires pre-match publicity, there was barely a bodily reaction that was not conveying Moeens desire to return from England duty and take them closer to a Lords final. He proved as much, carrying his form in the final Test at The Oval into county cricket, but sadly for Worcestershire, bodily functions elsewhere were markedly below par.While Mooen was at the crease at Taunton, his 81 from 76 balls possessing appropriate grace for such a wearing, humid day, Worcestershire implied that the 280 they needed to make this quarter-final an even game was well within their compass. Then, at 155 for 3 in the 30th over, Moeen got out, a swivel-pull against Peter Trego falling to Max Waller at deep midwicket. Worcestershire made only 210.They got what they deserved: a nine-wicket spanking with more than 13 overs to spare. The day was unbearably close; the match, almost as unbearably, was not.Worcestershires season is therefore as good as over. Defeat against Glamorgan at New Road as good as ended their Division Two promotion hopes, especially with only one side going up this year, they flattered to deceive in the NatWest T20 Blast and now their Royal London Cup challenge has ended at the quarter-final stage. They have lacked middle-order runs all season and that again proved to be their downfall.Daryl Mitchell, Worcestershires captain, did not flinch from criticism. We have been inconsistent with the bat all season, he said. We are relatively inexperienced but these are guys with England aspirations and we have to be able to turn potential in results and do it in front of the TV cameras when the pressure is on.There was another silky innings to relish at Taunton but Mahela Jayawardene, after making a delightful unbeaten 117 in 111 balls, would be the first to admit that he was not extended by the target. He has had a largely unproductive spell at Somerset this season - his previous best since joining the county for the NatWest T20 Blast being 55 - but a selection of easeful glides and a couple of gentle straight sixes against the spinners were a reminder of his class. Presented with a chance to depart with smiles all round, he took it. It would have been rude not to.Somerset now face an away tie against Warwickshire in the semi-final, but it looks as if they will have to manage without Jayawardene. I think the semi is going to be tight, he said. I have already moved a few things around to play today, but prior commitments at home mean I have to go back now. Even this match was a bit of an extension but I have had a great time here and if they get to the final I might be able to make the trip.Somerset posted an opening stand of 188 in 33.1 overs as Jim Allenby, 81 from 96 balls, also produced one of his crispest innings in a Somerset shirt before sweeping Moeen to deep square. It was Somersets seventh win in the competition this season after waltzing through their group. A challenging season is turning in his favour and he is now only one match away from skippering Somerset in a Lords final.Jayawardene set the tone in the field with a slick catch high to his left at first slip when Tom Kohler-Cadmore tried to advance down the pitch to Craig Overton while Josh Davey struck twice in one over, Tom Fell cutting weakly to point and Joe Clarke chipping just as tamely to midwicket.Moeen and Mitchell repaired matters in an untroubled stand of 113 in 20 overs, only for Worcestershire to falter a second time. Every Trego intervention is cause for contentment at Taunton and the ground was almost full to see him follow up the wicket of Moeen by dismissing Daryl Mitchell for 64 - a failed hit over mid-off - and adding Ross Whiteley for nought, an outside edge against one that rose a little. His 3 for 8 in 12 balls as good as settled the contest.Moeen and Mitchell apart, nine Worcestershire batsmen mustered 63 between them on a benign surface. The run out of Joe Leach by several yards after his heavy-footed plod failed to match the desire of his batting partner, Ed Barnard, for a quick second, summed it all up. When Jack Shantry was last out in the next over, seven overs remained unused. Ben Bishop Stars Jersey . James, who turned 29 on Monday, injured his groin Friday during the Heats overtime loss at Sacramento. He sat out the following game, a 108-107 win Saturday in Portland, before coming back to help send the Nuggets to their seventh consecutive loss. Bobby Smith Stars Jersey . The move comes after the Canadiens were approached by the Buffalo Sabres for permission to speak to Dudley - a former Sabres player and head coach. "The Sabres called for permission and I appreciate that, Im flattered, Dudley told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun of ESPN. http://www.thedallasstarshockey.com/alexander-radulov-hockey-jersey/ . Any real chance at payback wont come until the playoff. Still, Pittsburgh knows its taut 3-2 win over the Bruins on Wednesday night is a pretty good place to start laying the groundwork. "They are a very good defensive team," Penguins forward Brandon Sutter said. Tyler Seguin Stars Jersey . -- Vincent Lecavalier got everything but the desired result in his return to Tampa Bay. Miro Heiskanen Stars Jersey . Booth picked up 65 caps after making her national team debut in 2002 at the age of 17. She most recently played for Sky Blue FC of the National Womens Soccer League. "It just felt like it was my time to move on," she said in a phone interview from her hometown of Burlington, Ont. North Melbourne forward Drew Petrie was mentally drained in the last round of the AFL season but is adamant he can fire up in finals.Petrie, Brent Harvey, Nick Dal Santo and Michael Firrito all faced Greater Western Sydney in round 23.The game came five days after the four much-loved veterans were told this season would be their last at Arden St.Petrie, who had just three kicks against the Giants, admitted on Sunday the news impacted his performance.It was only match day. I felt great in the preparation all week, in the warm-up I was feeling good, Petrie said at Fox Footys Longest Kick Wildcard event.The happenings of the week maybe all dawned on me in that game ... I just felt a bit mentally drained by the end of the third quarter.Maybe it would have been better if I was a blabbering mess on Wednesday or Thursday, got that out of my system.The other alternative would have been for coach Brad Scott to hold off delivering the news until Norths campaign finished.You can look back in hindsight and suggest maybe if I had found out after the season it might have been better, Petrie said.But Im a resilient person and mentally capable of handling these decisions.I was fine with being told.Petries game wass so poor it has led to speculation he could be axed to accommodate the expected return of forward Jarrad Waite.ddddddddddddPetrie hasnt sought any assurances from Scott ahead of Saturday nights elimination final against Adelaide.The 33-year-old pointed to his record in AFL finals as cause for confidence regarding his chances of making the trip to Adelaide Oval.I know theres some guys that have got to come back in .. but Im not worried, Petrie said.I know that my form in finals over the last two years has been as good as anybody in our team.I know Brad will be aware of that as well.Petrie added he would be entirely focused on upsetting the Crows.It will be more of a motivating factor this week, knowing its do or die. Theres no next week for us if we lose, he said.None of us - Michael, Brent, Nick or myself - want to go out by bombing out in the first week of finals.Well be doing everything we can to make sure weve got another chance and hopefully we can go out winners.Petrie said he hadnt given any more thought towards potentially playing on at a different club in 2017. ' ' '