One-Day Cup: James Foster forces final-ball tie for Essex against Somerset

Former captain James Foster made an unbeaten 75 off 50 deliveries as Essex earned a thrilling tie off the final ball against Somerset at Chelmsford.

Adam Hose (77) and Jim Allenby (68) shared a stand of 141 as Somerset totalled 179-8 in a game reduced to 29 overs each after a rain interruption.

Essex were set a revised target of 177 to win, but slumped to 83-7.

The home side needed 16 off the last over but Foster hit a six, then ran a bye off the final ball to earn the tie.

The result means both teams remain unbeaten in the competition, having won their opening two games, and are one point behind leaders Glamorgan in their group.

Foster's innings included three sixes and eight fours and he rotated the strike superbly following the dismissal of Graham Napier by Lewis Gregory (4-23) after they put on 48 for the eighth wicket.

Earlier, Hose's half-century was his first in any format of the game for Somerset, as he and Allenby produced the only substantial partnership of Somerset's innings.

They came together following the dismissal of Peter Trego, soon after a lengthy rain interruption and were together for 20 overs before Allenby fell to Ryan ten Doeschate.

Essex's James Foster told BBC Essex:

"If we as a team are being honest when we critique the innings, we should have chased that down.

"We ultimately managed to salvage a point from a bad position, which is a good sign because potentially we could have easily lost that game.

"We're probably a bit relieved that we got out of jail with a point. But we would have back ourselves to chase that down."