Marcus leads Cidermen to victory over Hampshire

Marcus Trescothick returned to one day action in some considerable style at the County Ground today, as Somerset recaptured their one day form.

Chasing a Hampshire total of 262, captain Marcus led from the front by making an impressive 133 to help the Cidermen cruise to a six wicket victory.

By the time that the England man and his opening partner Peter Bowler had rattled up 61 off the first ten overs the game was almost won, such was the domination of the Somerset batsmen over the Hampshire attack.

Marcus stayed at the wicket until victory was in sight, sharing in an opening stand of 130 with Peter Bowler(41), before being caught at the wicket off Alan Mullally, who himself had dropped Trescothick just a few overs earlier.

Earlier in the day Hampshire had looked set to post a formidable total themselves after Derek Kenway (30) and Neil Johnson (52) had put on 54 in the first ten overs, but were reined back by some tight bowling from Richard Johnson, who ended with 2 for 42, and a good fielding performance.

Despite a quietly efficient display of batting from John Crawley who made 113, Hampshire failed to achieve their early promise, and set a total that was at least 40 runs short of what might have been a more challenging total for Marcus and his men to chase.

In the end it was left to Ian Blackwell (34) and Keith Parsons (21) to see Somerset home to a deserved victory at just after 5.45 pm with more that four overs to spare, and a lucrative home tie against Worcestershire in the quarter finals of the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy next month.

After the match Marcus Tresccothick told me: "We were always in control of the match, and in the end we won convincingly. We always knew that if we played well we were in with a chance, and when we got off to a flyer there was no looking back."

What did he hope for in the next round I asked. He told me: "We don't really mind who we play, but it would be nice to get a home draw. We are on a bit of a roll now and we are going to build on that in the quarter finals."

Somerset coach Kevin Shine told me: "This was a very good win for us especially as we were missing Andrew Caddick and Jamie Cox, and we are feeling very upbeat about it. Our bowling and fielding was fantastic to contain them to 262 and we won the match in a very efficient and professional manner.

Chief executive Peter Anderson told me: "As befits the cup holders we played very efficient one day cricket. Marcus Trescothick played a magnificent innings and then at the end we saw the full force of Ian Blackwell and a confident Keith Parsons, reminding us of why he won the man of the match award in the final last year, taking us to victory."