SOMERSET County Cricket Club has announced the capture of New Zealand batsman Devon Conway as its second overseas player for the 2021 season, subject to a Visa and No Objection Certificate being obtained.

The 29-year-old will join Somerset between June 23 and July 18, making him available for at least nine Vitality Blast group stage matches, as well as two LV= Insurance County Championship fixtures (against Leicestershire and Surrey).

Conway has featured in 14 IT20s for New Zealand, scoring 473 runs at an average of 59.12, with a high score of 99* against Australia earlier this year.

He has also played in three ODIs, in which he averages 75.

The left-hander said: “Somerset has a very good reputation and I’m excited to be joining the team for a key part of the season.

“I’m really looking forward to the challenge - England is one of the places where everyone wants to test their skills during the summer.”

Somerset director of cricket Andy Hurry commented: “With so much international cricket being played at this time, and with England playing ODIs and IT20s against both Sri Lanka and Pakistan during the Vitality Blast this year, we have been working behind the scenes to identify and secure the right player for us.

"I’ve followed Devon’s career closely and have been really excited at seeing his international career explode in recent months.

"We are really looking forward to seeing him pull on the Wyvern, seeing him play and watching him add real value to the team.”

Somerset's T20 captain Lewis Gregory added: “Devon is a quality player, and we are really pleased that he will be playing alongside us for part of this season.

"He’s an exciting talent and one that I am sure will help to take our already excellent squad onto the next level.”

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SOMERSET are in action away to Hampshire in the LV= Insurance County Championship this weekend (May 6-9).

After four matches, Gloucestershire lead the Group 2 standings, with three wins and one draw giving them 74 points.

Somerset (three wins and one loss) have 60 points and Hampshire (two wins, one draw, one loss) 59 points.

Hampshire's last match saw them suffer a heavy defeat against Surrey, losing by an innings and 289 runs, after West Indian Kemar Roach took 8-40 to bowl out Hampshire for 179 in their second innings.

Somerset have named a 13-man squad for the match, with Lewis Gregory returning after having to be substituted out of last week's win over Middlesex due to a member of his private bubble feeling unwell and awaiting the result of a Covid-19 test.

There is no place for Tom Banton, however, with the 22-year-old struggling at the top of the order this season, and so there will be a new opening partner for Tom Lammonby.

Somerset squad: Tom Abell (c), George Bartlett, Eddie Byrom, Josh Davey, Steve Davies, Marchant de Lange, Lewis Goldsworthy, Lewis Gregory, James Hildreth, Tom Lammonby, Jack Leach, Craig Overton, Roelof van der Merwe.